Although the NAU football team returns a large number of veterans on both sides of the ball, one position's lack of experience stands out. Departed running back and three-time All-Big Sky Conference selection Alex Henderson who, after four years of carrying the ball, left with 3,274 career rushing yards, the second-best total in Lumberjacks' history. His graduation left a void of experience and production that won't be easily replaced.

Sophomore Giovannie Dixon, though, is hoping the transition is a seamless one. Since transferring as a walk-on at Arizona State to a full-ride scholarship at NAU before the start of the 2009 season, he's been steadily gaining ground as the main man to carry the rock.

"When he comes out here between the white lines, he's taking the role that Alex left last year," running backs coach Chris Taylor said. "He's trying to lead by example and is busting his tail every day. Everything we've asked him to do, he's doing."

In his first spring at NAU, Dixon is playing like it's his job to lose. He's showcased his back-breaking speed and that he's willing to take would-be tacklers head on. His aggressiveness is an element in his game he wants to work on during spring practice.

Unlike in high school in southern California where he just ran past everyone, Dixon knows that tactic is not going to work at the college level.

"I was just fast as hell," Dixon said about his high school days, when he ran the 100-meter in 10.8 seconds. "I was like, 'Man, I'm not trying to hit anybody; I'm trying to get into the endzone.' In college, you can't dance in the hole; you can't do the things you did in high school."

Even though Dixon's put on more than 30 pounds since his high school days, he hasn't lost a step. In fact, it's the opposite.

"Way faster," he said. "I feel a lot faster."

Since arriving at NAU, Dixon's been groomed for the starting role. He and Henderson were roommates last summer and was quickly taken under the senior's wing. Henderson taught Dixon everything he knew about football: From eating well, to weightlifting, to NAU's playbook, Henderson wanted to see Dixon succeed.

"He's really striving for me to do better than him," Dixon said of Henderson. "He wants me to break the (all-time school rushing) record."

There's a ways to go, but Dixon's on the right track. As Henderson's backup last year, Dixon averaged 6.5 yards a carry and finished with 252 yards and two touchdowns. Within the first week of spring drills, head coach Jerome Souers has already noticed improvement in Dixon's game.

"He's got great speed and he's showed better patience the last few days," Souers said. "It looks like the guy's been in the system a little longer. He was so new last year in the fall."

Taylor said that patience is the main thing from Henderson's running style that Dixon's incorporated into his own.

"Alex was really good about it. He let things develop in front of him instead of grabbing the ball and trying to run 100 miles an hour," Taylor said. "Gio, he's calmed down and is a lot more patient."

The only roadblock in his way is classwork. Dixon admitted that he needs to improve his grades to ensure playing time this year. Sophomore Jamil Hines is listed as Dixon's backup and the Jacks recruited a couple of talented freshmen from California. Three-star recruit Jamaal Perkins and Jonathan DeWitt will be vying for playing time come fall.

Still, if everything's going as planned, Dixon will be carrying the load Sept. 2 against Western New Mexico.

"He can be the guy and I think he should be," Souers said. "He's positioned himself that way."

Jacob May can be reached at 556-2257 or jmay@azdailysun.com