Brian Poli-Dixon Class: Senior Hometown: Tucson, AZ High School: Sabino Height / Weight: 6-5 / 216 Position: Split End Birthdate: 04/21/1979

UCLA — Brian enters his senior year regarded as one of the top receivers in the country and a candidate for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation’s best receiver … During his career, Poli-Dixon has made 115 receptions for 1,712 yards … He ranks eighth on UCLA’s career reception list and 11th on the career yardage list, 61 behind No. 10 Jojo Townsell … In addition, he has scored 18 touchdowns on his 115 receptions, one touchdown every 6.4 catches … He is only the second player in school history to catch at least 44 passes twice in a career (Kevin Jordan is the other) and no one has done it three times … He is also the second player in school history to record at least 712 receiving yards in two different seasons (J.J. Stokes is the other) and no one has accomplished that in three seasons … Brian possesses very good speed and quickness which, combined with his size, makes him an outstanding big-play performer … He is also an excellent blocker … He enjoyed a very good Spring in which he demonstrated the ability to be the leader of the wide receiver group.

2000 — The redshirt junior, an All-Pac-10 honorable mention selection in 2000, was on the Biletnikoff Award pre-season list … On the year, Poli-Dixon ranked second on the Bruin squad with 53 receptions, 750 yards and five receiving touchdowns … He started 10 of his 11 games and played at least 50 snaps eight times, including 70 at Arizona, 64 at California, 62 versus Stanford, 58 against Arizona State and 57 versus Wisconsin … During the regular season, he ranked fifth in the Pac-10 with his averages of 4.60 receptions and 70.0 yards … In UCLA’s victory over Arizona State, Poli-Dixon made a season-high eight receptions for 107 yards … He made a key third-down reception deep in UCLA territory on the team’s first touchdown drive and his 17-yard reception gave the Bruins a first-and-goal at the 10-yard line on the drive that gave them their first lead of the game, 28-21 … At California, he made five receptions for 59 yards, producing three first downs … Against Oregon State, he made a team-high six receptions for 93 yards, producing five first downs … On UCLA’s late fourth-quarter touchdown drive, he made receptions of 22 and 25 yards … In his return to his hometown (Arizona), Poli-Dixon had five catches for 77 yards and an 18-yard touchdown grab which gave UCLA a 14-7 lead over Arizona at the time … He added two receptions for 35 yards, including one for 26, in the victory over Stanford … He was at his best against Washington, making a season-high eight receptions for a career-high 165 yards and one touchdown … The 165 yards rank No. 11 on UCLA’s single-game list and the eight catches tied his season high … His 48-yard reception set up UCLA’s first touchdown and his 45-yard catch gave the Bruins the ball at the four-yard line to set up the go-ahead score at the end of the half … He also made three catches on the fourth-quarter scoring drive, including the seven-yard TD … In the regular-season finale versus USC, he made two catches for 53 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown pass from Freddie Mitchell with 9:15 remaining in the first quarter … Against Wisconsin in the Sun Bowl, he made seven catches for 50 yards … In the season-opener against Alabama, he made one reception -- a 31-yard TD catch … However, he suffered cramps in both hamstrings on a long pass in the third quarter and did not return … He sat out the game versus Fresno State with tightness in his hamstrings … In the victory over No. 3 Michigan, he made four receptions for 44 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown that brought the Bruins to within three points, 20-17 … He also tossed a 32-yard pass to Jon Dubravac on UCLA’s first-half field goal drive … At Oregon, he made five receptions for 36 yards.

1999 — Saw action in the first three games of the year and made eight receptions … Against Fresno State, he made a season-high four catches, including one touchdown … Fractured his right wrist during that contest and was forced to sit out the remainder of the season.

1998 — Poli-Dixon earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention selection following his outstanding sophomore campaign … He finished as the team’s second-leading receiver with 44 receptions for 712 yards and 10 touchdowns, one of the best seasons ever by a Bruin sophomore … Only J.J. Stokes (728 yards in 1992) ever gained more yards as a sophomore and only Mike Sherrard (48) and Kevin Jordan (45) ever made more receptions … His 10 receiving touchdowns ranked first (tied) in the Pac-10 … His nine-catch performance at Oregon State tied for seventh, at the time, on the all-time UCLA single game receiving list … It was the most catches by a UCLA player since J.J. Stokes caught 14 balls in the 1994 Rose Bowl … On the year, 29 of his 44 receptions resulted in first downs in addition to his 10 scores … Seven of those receptions measured at least 30 yards, topped by his 61-yard touchdowns at Houston and at Miami, and five resulted in scores … He enjoyed a huge game in the 1998 season opener with five catches for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns measuring 34 and 20 yards … Four of the catches produced first downs … Against Houston, he scored on a 61-yard pass from Cade McNown and produced a first down with both of his catches … On Oct. 3 against Washington State, he made three receptions for 40 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown and two first downs … At Arizona, he led the Bruins with four catches for 51 yards, including his fifth touchdown of the year … He was kept out of the end zone for the first time this season versus Oregon and caught two balls for 62 yards … His 43-yard catch set up a game-tying touchdown with just 10:13 remaining in regulation … At California, he grabbed four balls, two for scores, including a spectacular 35-yarder in which he made a leaping grab while fully extended in the end zone … Versus Stanford, he made five catches for 80 yards, including a 53-yard scoring play … Following his effort at Oregon State, he made two receptions for 20 yards in the win at Washington and two for three yards in the victory over USC … At Miami, he grabbed two TD receptions, including one of 61 yards which tied his career-best … In all, he had four catches for 130 yards vs. the Hurricanes, including a seven-yard TD and a 54-yard reception prior to a fumble … He played just part of the first half of the Rose Bowl game against Wisconsin due to an injured hamstring and made two catches for 15 yards … He started the final 10 games of the season after moving into the starting lineup against Washington State and played at least 30 snaps in every game except the Rose Bowl (injury), including 59 at Oregon State, 58 versus Stanford, 57 against Oregon and 54 at California.

1997 — Poli-Dixon became just the fourth UCLA true freshman wide receiver since 1973 to catch a touchdown pass (the others were Bryan Adams in 1990, Jim McElroy in 1994 and Brad Melsby in 1995) and the second (Melsby was the first) to catch two in the same game (Houston) … On the year, he made 10 receptions, third among returnees, for 149 yards and the two scores … His touchdowns against Houston measured 31 and 15 yards … Also made two catches against USC (35 yards) and Texas A&M (31 yards) in the Cotton Bowl … Appeared in 10 of 12 games, making his debut against Tennessee, and played at least 20 snaps four times — 28 at Texas, 22 versus California, 21 at USC and 20 vs. Texas A&M.

HIGH SCHOOL — Lettered two seasons in football for coach Jeff Scurran at Sabino High School in Tucson, AZ … As a senior, he was named to the PrepStar All-American team as the No. 6 receiver in the West … All-West selection by PrepStar … SuperPrep All-Far West … Earned USA Today honorable mention accolades … Led his team to a 12-1 mark, the state 4A semifinals and a No. 7 ranking in the state according to Student Sports … Named first-team All-State, All-City, All-Sonoran and All-League … Selected to play in the 4A/5A North-South All-Star game … Totaled 44 catches for 912 yards and 17 touchdowns as senior … Established a school record for most touchdowns in a season and a career; most receiving yards for a season and career; and most catches in a season … Tied the school mark with 185 yards receiving in a game, on six catches … As a junior, he made nine catches … Also lettered three seasons in track and field (100m, 4 x 100 relay, high jump, long jump) for coach Doug McSpadden … Posted a state best high jump mark of 6-9 as a senior.

PERSONAL — Full Name: Brian Jason Poli-Dixon … Parents: Ben Dixon, Jr. and Patty Poli … Born: April 21, 1979 in Tucson … Has three sisters — Ericka, Rachel, Nicole … Lists Michael Jordan and Randy Moss as the athletes he admires … In his spare time, he likes to hand out with friends, travel and listen to music … Earned spot on Director’s Honor Roll in Winter 1998 (3.00 GPA) … History major.

Varsity Statistics - B. Poli-Dixon
Receiving

Career Highs
Receptions: 9 vs. Oregon State, 1998; 8 vs. Arizona State, 2000; vs. Washington, 2000; 7 vs. Wisconsin, 2000
Receiving Yards: 165 vs. Washington, 2000; 130 vs. Miami, 1998; 107 vs. Arizona State, 2000; 93 vs. Oregon State, 2000
Touchdown Receptions: 2 vs. Miami, 1998, vs. Texas, 1998, vs. Houston, 1997