Less than a month ago, Thaddeus Dixon’s college career appeared to be coming to a close. The senior cornerback had played four seasons — two at UW and two at Long Beach City College, a junior college in Southern California.

His eligibility clock seemed to be ticking to a close.

Dixon, however, gained an extra year of eligibility on Dec. 23 when the NCAA granted a blanket waiver to student-athletes who spent time at the junior college level. He will, it appears, play one more season of college football.

Just not at Washington.

Dixon reportedly entered the transfer portal on Sunday according to multiple outlets, becoming the second starter from UW’s secondary to exit. While the portal technically closed on Dec. 28, players who participated in a late bowl game like the Sun Bowl have a five-day window after their bowl game to leave.

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound cornerback was selected as an All-Big Ten honorable mention during the 2024 season, making 43 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and defending 11 passes in 13 games. Dixon finished his UW career with 69 tackles, three tackles for a loss, two interceptions, 18 passes defended and a forced fumble in 27 career games.

Dixon’s loss is interesting to consider.

His departure was a foregone conclusion until a few weeks ago. The NCAA Division I board of directors issued a blanket waiver to all former junior college athletes whose eligibility was set to expire this year shortly after Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was granted a preliminary injunction in his lawsuit arguing junior college years shouldn’t count against his NCAA eligibility.

The blanket waiver granted Dixon one more season, but Washington may have already done its scholarship math for the 2025 campaign assuming he wasn’t going to return. Safety Justin Harrington, the only other player on UW’s roster who gained an extra year of eligibility from the blanket waiver, entered the transfer portal on Dec. 27.

UW is set to return cornerback Ephesians Prysock, a former Arizona transfer, in 2025 and is reportedly in contention for Tacario Davis, one of the top players in the transfer portal according to 247Sports. Davis, another former Wildcat, earned second-team All-Big 12 honors during the past year.

Prysock and Davis were Arizona’s starting cornerbacks under Fisch and cornerbacks coach John Richardson when the Wildcats went 10-3 and won the 2023 Alamo Bowl. Davis briefly entered the transfer portal when Fisch and Richardson left, but eventually withdrew his name to return to Arizona. He reentered the transfer portal on Dec. 11.

UW’s pursuit of Davis might’ve left Dixon in a strange place.

Dixon is the shortest of the three defensive backs — Davis and Prysock are both listed 6-4 — and would’ve been the most obvious choice to move inside to play nickel, where Dixon played significant snaps in 2023. Starter Jordan Shaw, who committed to Texas A&M on Sunday, decided to transfer on Jan. 1.

However, Dixon enjoyed his breakout season playing outside. Pro Football Focus graded him as UW’s best defensive player not considering edge rusher Russell Davis II, who played only 34 snaps.

Dixon’s coverage skills, in particular, shined during the 2024 season after winning the starting job over Elijah Jackson — the 2023 Sugar Bowl hero — during fall camp. Dixon allowed just 23 catches on 51 targets for 237 yards and two touchdowns.

His 45.1 percent of targets caught was bested only by safety Cameron Broussard, who was only targeted 17 times. Dixon’s 10.3 yards per catch trailed only reserve Leroy Bryant and nickel Dyson McCutcheon. Prysock, in comparison, allowed 52.9% of his targets to be caught for 399 yards and an average of 14.8 yards per catch in 2024.

Dixon’s departure leaves UW with Prysock, McCutcheon, Bryant, Caleb Presley and Elias Johnson at cornerback because Davis hasn’t publicly announced where he’ll play in 2025. McCutcheon primarily plays nickel.

Presley is a former four-star recruit from Federal Way who played at Rainier Beach High. The state’s top recruit in 2023 according to the 247Sports composite rankings, Presley has battled injuries throughout his UW career.

Bryant was UW’s fourth cornerback throughout the 2024 season, behind Dixon, Prysock and Jackson. He suffered an injury right before the season which cost him the first few games, but started the Sun Bowl. Johnson, a former Kalen DeBoer recruit, is coming off a redshirt season in 2024.

UW also signed a trio of freshmen cornerbacks in its 2025 recruiting class. D’Aryhian Clemons played at Spanaway Lakes High. Dylan Robinson was a four-star prospect and one of UW’s highest-rated recruits. Ramonz Adams was originally committed to Texas Tech before signing with Washington.