Syracuse football: Riley Dixon wins Denver Broncos punter job

When the Denver Broncos selected former Syracuse Orange football player Riley Dixon in this year’s NFL Draft, it was thought that he’d have his work cut out for him to make the full roster. It ends up that Dixon was up for the work...

With his only competitor for the role, Britton Colquitt, off the roster, Dixon is officially the Broncos’ punter now. In three preseason games, he’s averaged nearly 44 (!!!) yards per punt and out-played Colquitt enough that Denver was willing to go with the cheaper rookie (Dixon) over the veteran.

Yesterday, the Broncos made news by naming one-time Syracuse foe Trevor Siemian their new starting quarterback. You may remember him from the time Northwestern used a shady personal foul call to beat the Orange in the Carrier Dome, 42-41 in 2012. That afternoon, Siemian went 8-for-11 with 78 passing yards and one TD (Kain Colter had the majority of the throws on the afternoon). Now that same quarterback is the Broncos starter. What could go wrong?

The obviously talented Dixon has had some luck along the way to NFL stardom, so there’s always potential he could get help yet again to meet his true calling. Should Siemian, who most fans seem underwhelmed with, fail to lead the defending Super Bowl champs, perhaps they go a different direction at QB? A more dynamic, defender-punching, trick-playing direction?

Would be quite the leap for the former local walk-on punter. But at this point, are you really going to doubt it?

#DixonForHeismanMVP