USC head football coach Shane Beamer is not easing into the weekend. For the second time in less than two hours Friday afternoon, the Gamecocks signed another free agent out of the transfer portal. This time at running back as Ohio State transfer Sam Williams-Dixon (5-11, 206) has committed to the Gamecocks. He spent two years with the Buckeyes before entering the transfer portal.
Williams-Dixon initially entered the portal last offseason before withdrawing and returning to Ohio State. He appeared in four games during the 2024 season as the Buckeyes, totaling 53 rush yards as the Buckeyes won the national championship. This year, he appeared in just one game for the Buckeyes and had three carries.
Dixon is a native of Columbus who was recruited by Penn State out of high school by then Nittany Lions running backs coach Stan Drayton, who is now at South Carolina.
Sam Williams-Dixon bio from Ohio State
Ohio State Overview
• Sam spent two seasons with Ohio State, including a red-shirt year in 2024, and he has three years of eligibility remaining entering the 2026 campaign
• He played in just one game in 2025, vs. Ohio, after playing in three games in 2024 – Akron, Western Michigan and Purdue
• He had three carries for nine yards in 2025 vs. Ohio and gained 53 rushing yards off seven carries in 2024 for career totals of 10 carries and 62 yards
• Had 40 yards off three carries as a true freshman vs. Western Michigan, including a career-long 31-yard rush
More on Sam
• Sam signed his National Letter of Intent with the Buckeyes in December of 2023
• He was among a large group of first-year freshmen players who enrolled at Ohio State in January of 2024 and took part in spring drills
• Sam was the third-highest ranked player at his position in the state of Ohio as a high school senior
• Played his first three years at West Holmes High School before making the move to Pickerington North prior to the 2023 season
• Averaged 6.7 yards per carry as a senior and scored four touchdowns in only five games
• Added 997 receiving yards and 10 TDs while helping the Knights reach the state semifinals for the first time in school history
• Had nearly 1,800 yards from scrimmage during his junior season and scored 41 touchdowns
• Accounted for 76 touchdowns in his final two seasons at West Homes
• Mother is Roddreka Dixon
HONORS & AWARDS
2025: Academic all-Big Ten Conference