Xavier Nixon: Video Highlights for Former Florida OT

It was an up-and-down collegiate career for Florida offensive lineman Xavier Nixon.

The 6'6", 321-pounder cracked the starting lineup for the Gators as a freshman, starting five games at left tackle, which was essentially like playing right tackle with southpaw Tim Tebow under center.

However, Nixon also struggled with inconsistency throughout his time in Gainesville and spent the next three seasons bouncing into and then back out of the lineup.

With that said, we're all about accentuating the positive, so let's take a glass-half-full look back at Nixon's four years with the Gators. 

Blocking Against the Run vs. Bowling Green (2012)

As you might expect from a tackle that's almost built more like a guard, Xavier Nixon's strength and size made him a very effective run-blocker at times for the Gators.

That run-blocking ability was on display in Florida's season-opening win over Bowling Green in 2012.

In the play shown above, Nixon does an excellent job of getting off the line of scrimmage quickly, pushing the defensive end back and opening a nice hole for running back Mike Gillislee.

Protecting the Passer vs. Texas A&M (2012)

Playing in the Southeastern Conference, Nixon spent his senior season going up against a number of players who will be high draft picks in the 2013 NFL draft.

That included Texas A&M's Damontre Moore, whom Nixon squared off against in a September win by the Gators.

Nixon kept Moore away from the quarterback that Saturday afternoon, including on this play, where Nixon does a fine job of maintaining his block and riding Moore past the action.

Helping out vs. Tennessee (2012)

Not only is Xavier Nixon more than capable of holding his own in the trenches, but the big man also possesses the athleticism to help out a teammate, while still having time to recover and address his own assignment.

That's exactly what Nixon does in this clip from a September victory over the Tennessee Volunteers.

When the defensive tackle begins to push upfield, Nixon chips in to help the guard regain the upper hand, but Nixon still has plenty of time to get back and take care the end rushing from the outside.

The result is a nice pickup through the air across the middle for the Gators.

Clowning Around vs. South Carolina (2012)

As I said earlier in this article, Xavier Nixon faced some of the best defenders in the nation during his senior season at Florida, including the player that most people feel was the best pass-rusher in the country.

That player was South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney, and while Clowney did rack up a sack in their October meeting, Nixon acquitted himself well all things considered.

That includes on this play, where Nixon stonewalled Clowney, affording quarterback Jeff Driskel the time to find the open man in the end zone for a Florida score.

Shining for Scouts: 2013 Senior Bowl

Xavier Nixon was a participant in January's Senior Bowl in Mobile, and while Mike Mayock's assertion that Nixon is a "phone booth" blocker isn't what you want to hear about a tackle prospect, Nixon had a decent showing in Alabama.

As the above video shows, Nixon practiced well at the Senior Bowl, keeping Stanford linebacker Chase Thomas at bay in drills and dispatching Clemson's Malliciah Goodman with relative ease.