Strange paths lead back home

Sometimes the path laid before us is uncertain beyond a few yards ahead, but for two of Duquesne's football stars, their paths brought them from the big stage of the Big Ten to Rooney Field. Call it fate or rebirth, but don't call it a second chance.

"I view it as a new life, not a second chance," Dorian Bell said.  

"As everyone knows, I made mistakes, and that's all I can put it as, is making mistakes. So it's definitely just a new start and a new life right now, especially just from where I was before."

The 6-foot-1, 228-pound athlete was a five-star recruit signed by Ohio State University out of local Gateway High School. Projected as the No. 3 outside linebacker prospect by scouting site Rivals.com, Bell redshirted his freshman year for the Buckeyes and played eight games his sophomore season.

He was suspended in May for violation the same OSU team rule three times, during a time when the scarlet and grey were under NCAA scrutiny. Facing a season-long suspension, Bell transferred to Duquesne where he was not required by the NCAA to sit out.

"This is where I'm meant to be. It was a cool opportunity to spend two years with the Buckeyes and see how they do things, to see how great players succeed, as in the tradition they have up there with all the players that have come out and went to the NFL," Bell said. "Most of them [Buckeyes] come back and say what it takes to be a hard worker, and that's what I want to bring to this football team."

In four games this season Bell has asserted himself as a force that offensive lines and running backs have to reckon with. Bell has 10 solo tackles, two for loss, including a 9-yard sack. As his pacing of the sidelines shows, his motor never stops. He gives the vibe of a player who never wants to stop playing football.

"I always want to be on the field. I can't ever get off, especially coming from high school. Everybody's on the field in high school," Bell said. "I like to play fast, quick and tough. I'm not taking nothing from no one."

Dixon followed a different path from the Big Ten to the Bluff. The former quarterback transferred from Michigan State following the 2007 season, and in his first start, completed 30-of-47 passes for 429 yards and a school-record six touchdowns at Bucknell.

But Dixon was injured the following season, and with the emergence of current quarterback Sean Patterson, Dixon's future role was uncertain. After being cleared to play on a Thursday, which was not enough time to prepare to play quarterback that Saturday, Coach Schmitt brought him into his office.

"I said to him, ‘You're too good of an athlete to not be on the field. Would you want to go out and catch some passes? You're 6-foot-5. You run a 4.5 40 [yard]. You're a really good athlete.'"

Schmitt said by the time he left his office and walked out to the field 20 minutes later, Dixon was already out with receiver's gloves on.

Don't think Dixon's steps have been steps down, though. On Oct. 24, 2009, against St. Francis, Dixon made first start at receiver and led the Dukes with seven catches for 68 yards including a 20-yard touchdown reception.

His 43 catches for 602 yards earned him second team All-Northeast Conference honors last season.

But this year was in question for the star of the Dukes.

Dixon went through the Senior Day festivities on Rooney Field last fall, which was his third season with Duquesne and fifth as a college athlete. He finished the game with five catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He knew it was possible that he might be eligible for another year.

"It's something that we had talked about a few years ago," Dixon said. "Actually, probably right around the time I came here, we said ‘hey, maybe it's a possibility down the road. Let's see how it works out.'"

Thirty hours before this season's opener at Bucknell, Schmitt got notification from Duquesne's Compliance Director that Dixon was cleared for one last year after more than eight months of negotiating between Duquesne, Michigan State and the NCAA.

"We called back and got his physical and his equipment and his uniform," Schmitt said. "He showed up Friday evening after team dinner, walked in, [and] the team gave him an ovation."

This year has been outstanding for the man who has traveled so far. With 11 touchdowns this year, Dixon has five more than any other NEC receiver. And his 28 catches slot him eighth in the conference and second behind Issac Spragg on the team.

"Make the best of it. Everybody's path is different. Mine was ups-and-downs crazy," Dixon said. "Some people are more fortunate to play four years, some only two. But I've known people that have played two that have been really successful, that have just made the best of every opportunity that they are given."

Dixon and Bell have found a unique relationship with each other, coming from similar backgrounds to Rooney Field, with dreams of ultimately playing football at a professional level.

"I talked to him a lot about it, and about the teams we're going to face, about how it's a good opportunity just to be here," Bell said. "Just to be playing football anywhere is a great opportunity to where you're trying to get to go to