As Tre Nixon begins his final season at UCF, the receiver isn’t shying away from assuming a more vocal leadership role on the team. He knows it’s particularly important following the departure of fellow receiver Gabe Davis, who left early and was selected in the NFL draft.
Being an upperclassman, being a senior now it’s really important to lead these young guys, Nixon told reporters during a videoconference interview. That’s something I’m still improving on every single day.
Nixon’s even taking some leadership cues from one of the greatest athletes of all time: Michael Jordan.
Even watching this documentary, I’m learning so much stuff on how to be a leader. How MJ pushed his dudes and try and translate it to my game, Nixon said, referring to the recent ESPN documentary series The Last Dance, which showcased Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ run to six NBA championships.
Nixon put together a career-best season in 2019, finishing second on the team behind Davis in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns while finishing third in receptions. It was his second season with the Knights after transferring from Ole Miss in spring 2018.
UCF was one of the best decisions that I’ve made, said Nixon, who received a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately after the Rebels’ football program was hit with a postseason ban. Coming back home and going to UCF — it brought my confidence back and it showed me that I belong here and that I can compete with these guys.
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