By Lee Jenkins, SI.com

Dixon, who graduated last June with a sociology degree and a 3.27 GPA, has full access to the training center. When he arrives daily at 9 a.m., Harris has a creatine shake waiting for him. When he leaves, as late as 5 p.m., Harris has another shake ready -- chocolate milk with glutamine and whey protein. "We would do this for any of our former players," says director of football operations Jeff Hawkins. "But Dennis is special. We owe it to him."

Before the website's launch in mid-February, Sperbeck e-mailed the link to more than 100 NFL general managers, personnel directors and coaches. Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp shot back a reply: "I wish everyone had this." Nevertheless, when Dixon attended the combine later that month to participate in interviews, some G.M.'s were surprised that he wasn't on crutches and weren't aware he had begun throwing. "Look at my site," Dixon pleaded. "Just look at it."

When Fisher started filming workouts in mid-February, Dixon could barely drop back. By mid-March he was shuffling from side to side in the pocket, lofting 60-yard fly patterns to former Ducks teammates Jordan Kent (now with the Seahawks) and Cameron Colvin and firing 15-yard slants to roommate Leon Murry. After one of Dixon's passes hit Murry in the ribs, the receiver collapsed in a heap, gasping, "My lungs!"

Dixon played outfield in the Atlanta Braves system last summer and was a finalist last fall for the Draddy Trophy, given to the top scholar in college football. In other words, he has options outside of football. But no QB in this draft has longer arms (36.25 inches) or bigger hands (9.75-inch span) or a faster 40 time (4.49 seconds last year at Oregon). When Dixon was a junior, Bellotti told him he was a better prospect than Vince Young. And that was before Dixon completed 67.7% of his passes in 2007, with 20 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Mike Mayock, the NFL Network's draft expert, believes Dixon is a better passer than Young but not as explosive a runner. He projects Dixon as a fourth-round pick. Asked where Dixon would have been drafted if he hadn't been injured, Mayock said, "Who knows?"

Last Thursday, when Dixon walked to the 50-yard line at Oregon's indoor practice facility, 10 NFL scouts stood in a line, beneath a banner that read blitz this. They had come to witness the rebirth of Dennis Dixon.

Most potential draft picks have multiple opportunities to impress. For Dixon, this was the Senior Bowl, the combine and pro day rolled into one -- the first time he was throwing for an audience since that Arizona game. Fisher stood with the scouts, his Handycam rolling. The sideline was packed with people who'd hastened Dixon's recovery -- doctors, trainers, coaches, staffers and, of course, his father. No one spoke above a whisper.

Dixon threw every kind of pass, even the Hail Mary. He missed a few. He favored his knee a little. But at the end Jeff Horton, a St. Louis Rams offensive assistant, was shaking his head in admiration. "This guy had surgery three-and-a-half months ago, and you see him here today -- his arm strength, his mobility," said Horton. "I think he helped himself a lot."

A few scouts playfully asked Oregon coaches not to send video of the workout to other teams. But Fisher was already hustling up to his office with his Handycam, ready to download and edit the new footage. By nightfall it was online.