When running back Kenneth Dixon first reported to Ravens rookie minicamp, he walked in the hotel room and saw a familiar face. He had never met Keenan Reynolds, but he sure knew about him.
The last time Dixon saw Reynolds was on TV, when the former Navy triple-option quarterback broke Dixon's short-lived all-time NCAA career touchdowns record with his 88th score from scrimmage – one more than Dixon.
Now Reynolds and Dixon are roommates.
"I said, 'Hey, I know you!'" Dixon said. "It was pretty cool. I've got to get his autograph for my momma. She's a big fan of his."
How's that for a Mother's Day gift? The autograph of the guy who broke your record.
Dixon wrestled the record away from Reynolds in his final game, the New Orleans Bowl, when the Louisiana Tech star scored four touchdowns. That put him two ahead of Reynolds heading into Navy's final game, the Military Bowl against Pittsburgh.
Dixon settled in to watch the game on TV, and, for a little bit, it looked like they would finish tied.
"Kind of late in the game they took him out and put the other quarterback in," Dixon said. "I was like, 'OK, we're tied, so I can breathe a little bit.' I went to the store and came back, and as soon as I walked in, he scored a touchdown."
Dixon flipped off the TV. There was no point in watching anymore.
"It was kind of bittersweet," Dixon said. "I was kind of mad at the time, but exceptionally happy for him and his journey."
Then Dixon quietly mumbled, "I told him if I had those two games, he probably wouldn't have been the leader." Dixon missed two games last season with an ankle injury.
In their first couple of days as roomies, the record has often been a topic of conversation.
"We talked about it last night, we kind of talk about it all the time," Dixon said. "I'm not going to let him get out of here without not talking about it."
Now Dixon has his next opportunity to make a mark. There's already a lot of media buzz about the fourth-round tailback making a quick impact as a rookie. However, Dixon will be competing with Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, Terrance West, Trent Richardson and Lorenzo Taliaferro.
"There's a lot of competition," Dixon said. "All we can do is control what we can control and that's come out and compete and get coached by one of the best running back coaches."
