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By David Boyce

When it comes to evaluating new players, especially transfers, Northwest Missouri State football coach Adam Dorrel looks beyond the obvious of size, speed and strength.

Dorrel wants to see how they fit in with the program and their teammates. He notices the little things like breakfast.

At least that is one of the things that stuck in Dorrel’s mind when talking about twins Brandon and Brian Dixon, two defensive backs who transferred from Joliet Junior College.

“The thing I really appreciate is they are very thankful,” Dorrel said. “They are talking about breakfast. They said, ‘man this is nice to have a breakfast like this. We didn’t get this at Joliet.’ It’s nice to hear guys say that, to say thank you.”

When the breakfast story was brought to the Dixons’ attention, they laughed.

On the football field, expect Brandon and Brian Dixon to be very serious. They both have lofty goals. Brian wants to have seven interceptions, a lot of pass break ups and make All-American.

Brandon says he simply wants to be the No. 1 cornerback in the nation.

The Dixons, who are from Margate, Fl., stand at 6-0 and are 195 pounds. Using the eyeball test, you can see Brandon and Brian have the physique to be impact players on a defense that gained valuable experience last season.

“They are doing a good job of competing,” Dorrel said. “They are being very coachable. I really appreciate that. And the third thing, anytime you get a transfer, you want to get kids who are buying into what you are doing. They believe in what we are doing.”

Brandon got a head start on Brian. Brandon transferred to Northwest last spring and got a semester to acclimate himself to the school, the football program and his teammates.

He almost didn’t make it to Northwest. He nearly signed with a school that Northwest is very familiar with in postseason play.

“First off, I was going to Grand Valley State,” Brandon said. “I was going to sign my papers that day. And then my coach at Joliet said look at Northwest. I looked them up. They said they wanted me. I saw all the championships. I picked them.”

At the start of 2012, it appeared the Dixons would not be teammates for the first time. Brian had committed to Kansas State.

As fate would have it, the two were still meant to play football together. A couple of classes didn’t come through for Brian, forcing him to look at Division II schools.

“It was an easy decision to come here,” Brian said. “My brother helped me. I like the conference championships, the NCAA national championships and the postseason appearances. I like the football environment. I really like the coaches. I like the defensive coaches. I like the way they coach around here.”

Brandon, who had five interceptions last season at Joliet, had nothing but good things to tell his brother about Northwest.

“It has a football atmosphere,” Brandon said. “The coaches are really nice. They are the best coaches I’ve had in football. It’s a program you get treated like D-I. I think it is a nice program.”

Obviously, the Dixon brothers get along, but like any siblings, they compete with each other. This season will be no different.

Their friendly competition amongst themselves should ultimately help the defense, which already brings back quite a bit of talent from last year.

“I think we can play man this year and blitz,” Brandon said. “I think we can be a real good defense, the best in the nation.”