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By KYLE LOVERN

Sports Editor

GOODY, Ky. – Belfry defensive back Josh Dixon will take his talents to the University of the Cumberlands this fall as he signed a letter of intent on Thursday morning in a ceremony at the school.

With his parents Charles and Kim Dixon, brother Zack and cousin Austin sitting beside him, Dixon signed his scholarship offer in the Belfry High School library as several of his Pirate teammates watched.

Cumberland assistant coach Mike Collins was also in attendance and is excited that his school has signed Dixon.

“We’re excited about this. We have some great freshmen coming in,” Collins said. “We have been conference champs four out of the last five years. We want to continue that success and we’re glad Josh will be a part of our program.”

“I wasn’t ready to give up football yet and I’m so thankful to get four more years to play and to grow up and mature,” Dixon said. “I’ve been talking to coach Collins for a while now and I loved the campus. They play a similar type of football that we do so hopefully I can make the adjustment easily.”

“I just want to get better every day and take what I learned here at Belfry and progress,” Dixon added. “I’m nervous and excited. This is a dream come true. I have been wanting to play college football since I was in middle school. All of my hard work has paid off.”

Belfry head coach Phillip Haywood was happy for Dixon. He and several of his assistants also participated in the ceremonial signing.

“I’m real happy for him,” Haywood said. “It took a little while to get the paper work done, so that is why he was a little later signing.”

“He is an outstanding player and made a lot of big plays for us,” Haywood said. “This is a great opportunity for him not only to play football but to go down there and get an education.”

Haywood said Dixon spent a lot of time in the weight room during his high school career and that it paid off for him.

The college is located in Williamsburg, Ky.