Antonio Dixon Antonio Dixon ( born July 17 , 1985 ) is an American football nose tackle in the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins in 2009 . He played for the Eagles from 2009 - 2011 before being waived during final roster cuts , and played for the Indianapolis Colts in 2012 . He played college football at the University of Miami . Early years . Dixon grew up in at least six homeless shelters in Miami and Atlanta . He stuttered , had dyslexia , and could not read until the sixth grade . His mother , Corenthia Dixon , was a single parent raising five children , including Dixon . His father , Frazier Hawkins , served 17 years in prison for drug trafficking charges . He was released in April 2009 and now works as a personal trainer in a health club . Corenthia Dixon used drugs for two years , which led to Dixon and his siblings to live in foster care for a year . When Dixon was in the eighth grade , his family moved into an apartment . He got into fights as a child , got suspended , and eventually expelled from school while in eighth grade . Corenthia is now a cafeteria worker at a homeless shelter in Miami . Dixon attended Booker T . Washington High School in Miami , Florida . He started playing football in the ninth grade , and he played as an offensive and defensive lineman . He graded out at better than 90 percent in his blocking assignments as a senior . On defense , Dixon had 62 tackles and 10 . 5 sacks in his senior year , with 8 . 0 sacks during his junior year . He was ranked the 19th player in Florida by Rivals . com and was the 7th prep school prospect . By the time he finished high school , he weighed over 350 pounds . Preparatory career . In his only year at Milford Academy in 2004 , Dixon finished with 77 tackles , including 21 tackles for loss , which was a team - high . He also had 11 . 5 sacks , which was tied for first on the team , as Milford finished 11 - 1 that season . He had to take a Greyhound bus back and forth from New York to Miami because he could not afford plane tickets . College career . Dixon chose to sign with the University of Miami to play college football over Florida , Florida State , Rutgers and South Florida . As a true freshman in 2005 , he played in eight games and had seven tackles in key goal - line and short - yardage situations . In his sophomore season in 2006 , he played in 10 games ( one start ) and made 12 tackles , including two tackles for loss and a sack . As a junior in 2007 , Dixon played in nine games with four starts and made 21 tackles , 3 . 5 tackles for loss , 1 . 5 sacks and a pass deflection . In his senior year in 2008 , he played in 13 games with five starts and made 31 tackles , three tackles for loss , and one fumble recovery . In August 2008 , Dixon was hospitalized due to the effects of heat in Miami . In his career at the University of Miami , Dixon made 71 tackles , 8 . 5 tackles for loss , 2 . 5 sacks , a fumble recovery and a pass deflection . He also played in 40 games , ten of which he started . During spring of 2009 , Dixon received the Wilma Rudolph Student Athlete Achievement Award along with five other college athletes . The award is given to college athletes who have overcome great personal , academic and emotional odds to achieve academic success . Dixon graduated with a degree in liberal arts in May 2009 , and became the first person in his family to graduate college . Professional career . Washington Redskins . After being undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft , Dixon was signed by the Washington Redskins . He was waived on September 5 , 2009 . First stint with Philadelphia Eagles . Dixon was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles on September 6 , 2009 . Against the Chicago Bears on November 22 , 2009 , Dixon blocked a crucial field goal by Bears kicker Robbie Gould , which led to a 24 - 20 victory for the Eagles . After tearing his triceps in a week four game against the San Francisco 49ers on October 2 , 2011 , Dixon was placed on season - ending injured reserve . He was re - signed to a one - year restricted free agent tender on March 14 , 2012 . He was waived by Philadelphia on August 31 , 2012 Indianapolis Colts . Dixon was signed when cornerback Justin King was wavied to bolster depleted defensive line . Second stint with Eagles . Dixon was re - signed to a two - year deal by the Eagles on December 26 , 2012 . He was released on August 30 , 2013 . Personal . Dixon has an older half - brother , Darrell , a younger brother , Jarvis , and a younger sister , Mikesha .