This spring, wide receiver Cristian Dixon will be graduating from the University of Michigan. Dixon was a former Mater Dei stand out, making 35 receptions for 611 yards and six touchdowns in his junior year.
He is a three-time letter winner for a program that is the reigning CFP National Champions with a perfect record during the 2023 season.
“I feel like my commitment to Michigan is second to none,” Dixon said. “I know that it’s a good university and it’s gonna set me up for life.”
Growing up, playing football gave Dixon a sense of peace. At Mater Dei, he matured as an athlete. He gleaned from NFL quarterback Bryce Young who also attended Mater Dei.
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“Football … it’s a game we play but it’s also a business,” Dixon said. “I’m just looking for my opportunity and just trying to grow, that’s how Mater Dei helped me, just keep striving, put one foot forward.”
In high school, Dixon was the 35th-ranked wide receiver in the nation and the 17th wide receiver in California, according to Rivals.com.
A memorable moment was the first time Dixon helped the Monarchs defeat the Rancho Cucamonga Cougars. At the time, the squad had reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud as their quarterback.
“One of my best friends from childhood is C.J. Stroud,” Dixon said. “Being in that game, the first time we beat them, I could talk mess for life. The fact that my brothers gave me the opportunity to do that … that was a surreal moment.”
Throughout his time at Michigan, he knew to perform at a high level as a student athlete.
“We’re blessed in ways that we don’t often see and we often neglect,” Dixon said. “A lot of people show us a lot if love.”
Throughout his career at Michigan, Dixon did not get a lot of playing time. Not being given a chance to play was difficult for Dixon.
“I haven’t really played much,” he said. “Just getting over that and letting God do his work and just making sure I put my best foot forward every day.”
Dixon is majoring in general studies, his favorite was a class on nonviolence.
“It’s basically about a nonviolent approach to everything,” Dixon said. “Taking a nonviolence approach, we used Martin Luther King, Gandhi, all of them as different approaches. So looking at it from a whole different angle.”
With the Wolverines, Dixon got the opportunity to do community outreach work.
“We painted houses for a local hotel,” he said. ” All of our different position groups went to different places and painted and gave food out.”
Dixon advises young student-athletes to be true to themselves and learn how to build strong relationships.
“Rise to the circumstances, you can’t come with this fake idea of what you think you are and what you actually are,” Dixon said. “You have to stand behind what you believe in.”
