James Nixon

CLASS S: * 10.71 5/30/2006 James Nixon, HYDE SCHOOL
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CLASS S: * 10.71 5/30/2006 James Nixon, HYDE SCHOOL
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CLASS S: * 21.65 5/30/2006 James Nixon, HYDE SCHOOL

James Nixon of Hyde Leadership School in Hamden offered a verbal commitment to the Huskies on Tuesday morning.He chose UConn over Maryland and Virginia, though the likes of Nebraska and North Carolina also offered scholarships.

The 6-foot-1, 177-pound Nixon played primarly at running back and defensive back for Hyde.He is projected to play receiver or defensive back for the Huskies.He ran for 1,523 yards last season as Hyde won its second straight CIAC Class S title.Nixon has posted a 4.4-second time in the 40-yard dash and adds a dose of speed for the Huskies.

Nixon had listed Virginia as the leader for his services, but that was before he made an official visit to UConn last weekend.He is the brother of UConn receiver Brandon McLean.

Nixon becomes the 13th player to offer a verbal commitment to the Huskies.

Nixon return a pain as knee keeps him out
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-WEST HAVEN , The brisk mid-October day was supposed to be the perfect setting for James Nixon's triumphant return to the Greater New Haven area.
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When Nixon, the 2005 Register All-State running back at Hyde, lugged his belongings into his Bridgton (Maine) Academy dorm room in August, the highly touted receiver/defensive back circled the date Oct. 15 on his schedule and envisioned an inspiring homecoming.w
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Nixon was at Clint Frank Field, donning his No. 22 uniform for the Wolverines.But with a knee still bothered by a case of tendinitis, all Nixon could do was watch from the sidelines as Bridgton Academy lost 43-19 to fall to 3-3 on the season.

Nixon, one of the crown jewels in the last University of Connecticut football recruiting class, split time at quarterback and receiver in the Wolverines' season-opening 27-26 win over Husson College on Sept. 10.But following the game, the knee he first injured in last year's Class S state playoffs began to swell.

After a trip to have his knee checked out, Nixon was told that rest was the best medicine.So he didn't play in Bridgton's next four games.But Nixon returned to practice on Tuesday and was in full pads on Thursday, so his homecoming appeared to be set to go.

"I thought I was healthy enough to play today, but I guess not," Nixon said.
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"We aren't taking any chances with James, or anybody else," Marcella said.
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"I know James is very frustrated.
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Nixon headed to Bridgton after he failed to qualify academically for UConn.He was looking forward to being reunited with brother Brandon McLean, a junior receiver with the Huskies this fall.But when his SAT scores fell short, he enrolled at Bridgton Academy, a postgraduate-only prep school located about an hour west of Portland.

"The first day I got up there, it was odd because there were two other kids from Hartford, and they both do track," Nixon said.
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When Nixon went the prep school route, rumors inevitably began to surface about the speedster reopening his recruiting.However, Nixon said he is firm on his UConn commitment and hopes to be in Storrs as early as January.

"I'm still (going) to UConn," Nixon said.
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Nixon, who has an 85 academic average at Bridgton, is planning to take his SATs and ACTs next month.He is taking SAT prep courses at Bridgton, and he is hopeful about his chances of getting the necessary score.

Nixon has been in occasional contact with former Hyde teammate Bruce Campbell, a Maryland recruit who is prepping at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va.
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"He's doing really well," Nixon said."He told me about his 40 (-yard dash) times.He is dominating down there and still playing both sides of the ball."

Campbell is rated as the No. 3 prep school prospect in the nation , 15 spots ahead of Nixon , by rivals.com.

, Campbell and New Haven's James Nixon are the lone in-state recruits.Nixon, an all-state performer at Hyde, committed to UConn a year ago, but did not qualify academically and is spending the season at Bridgton Academy, a prep school in Maine.Edsall said Nixon, the younger brother of UConn wide receiver Brandon McLean, honored his commitment despite offers from other schools.

The Cavaliers were expected to have five prospects on campus this weekend, including another receiver target, Bayonne, N.J.'s highly regarded Kenny Britt; teammates Bruce Campbell and James Nixon from Hyde Leardership High School in New Haven, Conn., and wide receiver Brent Vinson from Phoebus High School in Hampton.