For Nixons, it’s all in the family again
When Devin Nixon was playing football at Viera High, he could look across the field and see his younger brother, Tre. The two boys pushed each other to be the best, fueled by a level of competitive fire known only by siblings.
The brothers are now back together on the football field, this time as teammates at UCF.
“It’s really good,” UCF receiver Tre Nixon said of their reunion. “It’s like back in the old days in high school when we used to compete all the time.”
Tre Nixon returned home to Florida last season, choosing to transfer to UCF after two seasons at Ole Miss. The 6-foot-2 receiver started all 13 games for the Knights in 2018, finishing third on the team in receptions (40) and receiving yards (562) with four touchdowns.
While his brother was enjoying the spoils of a 12-1 season and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl, Devin Nixon wrapped up his fourth year at Western Kentucky.
With one year of eligibility remaining, Devin Nixon decided it was time to reI’m turn home.
“I knew I was graduating and I had another year left and I knew my brother had already moved here and had a successful year, so I kind of wanted to reminisce back to high school when we played together and I thought it was a good decision for me,” Devin Nixon said of his decision to enroll at UCF as a walkon.
Before moving to Orlando, Devin Nixon recalled talking with his brother about the Knights.
“He told me he obviously loved being back home. It’s the best feeling in the world to play football back in your hometown and he loved the offense, how fast-paced it was and how the ball is always in the air and you’re going to get a lot of catches,” he said.
The two brothers haven’t played together in several years, but Tre Nixon said they are picking up right where they left off in high school.
And since Tre Nixon has more experience running the Knights’ offense, he’s challenging his brother to catch up.
“I’m always going to stay on him. We breed excellence through competition. I’m always going to stay on him,” Tre Nixon said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to compete on the field and if I see him slacking, going to get on him.”
But that’s not to say Tre Nixon isn’t happy to have his older brother back by his side.
“He pushes me; I push him. It’s good to have a familiar face out there, too,” Tre Nixon said. “You know mom’s happy. She’s right up the road, going to all the games now. She’s going to be excited to see her boys playing.”
Home cooking for Mack: Darriel Mack Jr. may be in the middle of a heated competition for the quarterback job at UCF this spring, but the redshirt sophomore can at least take comfort in knowing that his family is now just right around the corner.
Mack’s parents, Darriel and Hope, have become regular fixtures at the Knights’ games and the couple recently purchased a home in Orlando in an effort to be closer their son. The family moved down from Virginia this past week and is now living around the corner from campus.
“Actually, they’ve moved about five minutes away, so being able to go there and get some home-cooked meals sometimes and just sit around with my dad and talk ball or whatever the case may be. It’s a great opportunity,” Mack said with a smile.