BEREA — Charlie Frye decided it was time to speak up.
Giants receiver Domenik Hixon had thrust himself into the NFL consciousness with 102 yards and his first career receiving touchdown in a 44-6 win over Frye’s Seahawks last Sunday, and the ex-Browns quarterback was being asked to comment on his former Akron Zips teammate and roommate.
“I’ve never told this story before,” Frye said Thursday night on the phone.
When Frye was heading into his senior season at Akron, his receiving corps lacked talent and experience. New coach J.D. Brookhart approached him and asked what he needed to be successful.
“You give me Domenik Hixon to play wideout, that’ll make me happy,” Frye recalled. “Coach said, ‘If you want him, you go tell him.’”
Frye informed Hixon, who accepted the switch from starting free safety and caught 66 passes for 882 yards and six touchdowns. As a senior without Frye, Hixon (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) set school records with 75 catches for 1,210 yards, and added eight touchdowns.
“I saw his dad after the game Sunday and he gave me a hug,” said Frye, who’s expected to start for the Seahawks today. “He said, ‘Thanks, who knows where he would’ve been?’
“I was being selfish. It worked out for both of us.
“He looks bigger, faster and he’s doing a nice job catching the football. He’s doing everything you want your wideout to do.”
Frye had seen Hixon’s athleticism as a safety, then witnessed it up close and personal in the summer.
“Dang, he was a good basketball player, too,” Frye said. “I told him to come over to the good side of the ball. He was all for it.”
After Frye’s rookie year in 2005, he approached Browns general manager Phil Savage about drafting Hixon.
“I felt that strongly about him,” Frye said. “When you play with somebody, you know more than the so-called experts know him.”
Savage took Travis Wilson in the third round — he had two catches in two seasons before being cut — and Hixon fell to Denver in the fourth round. Hixon was injured and didn’t play as a rookie, then was cut following four games last season. The Giants claimed him off waivers and he’s stuck.
He played in 16 games last year with New York, including all four playoff games in the Super Bowl-winning run. He spent most of his time on special teams, including returning kicks.
But Hixon had yet to make an impression as a receiver. Then the Browns visited Aug. 18 for a preseason Monday nighter. With the Giants missing their top three receivers, Hixon erupted for 11- and 24-yard touchdown catches and returned a free kick 82 yards for another score.
The performance drew a congratulatory text from Frye, the respect of the Browns and more opportunities from the Giants.
“He’s a guy who obviously has a lot of ability,” said Browns cornerback Eric Wright, who was the victim on the 11-yard touchdown. “It’s just a surprise to everybody because he was looked at as a special teamer until he came out and made those plays. We have a lot of respect for him.”
Hixon’s regular-season big break as a receiver came last week when he started in place of the suspended Plaxico Burress. Hixon had four catches for 102 yards and a score, before leaving with a concussion. He practiced fully Friday and was listed as probable for Monday’s game versus the Browns.
“He’s been outstanding,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said on a conference call. “He’s a pleasure to be around because he’s a young guy and he absorbs coaching like a sponge.”
Hixon has 10 catches for 191 yards and is averaging 13.8 yards on nine punt returns, which ranks fifth in the NFL.
“He kind of worked himself up and earned his spot on the field and deserves some playing time,” Giants quarterback Eli Manning said.
Hixon’s rise to key NFL contributor is more remarkable considering how his 2007 began. On a kick return in the opener, Hixon was tackled by Buffalo’s Kevin Everett in a head-on collision. Everett was partially paralyzed from the neck down with a life-threatening spinal cord injury. Everett has regained the ability to walk, but the play affected Hixon. His performance suffered and he was cut by the Broncos less than a month later.
“At the time I didn’t feel like I was affected by the incident,” Hixon told reporters in New York. “But looking back on the tapes I noticed I was not going full speed like I should have been, like what I’m doing now.
“Kevin has been an inspiration to me. All the hard work he has been through. He is an inspiration to me every day.”

Winslow still in hospital; looks doubtful for Monday night

BEREA — Tight end Kellen Winslow remained in the Cleveland Clinic on Saturday, seemingly decreasing his chances of playing Monday night against the Giants.
The team continued to list him as questionable on the injury report, which designates a 50-50 chance of playing.
Winslow has been in the hospital since Thursday with an undisclosed illness. If he can’t play, Steve Heiden would start and Darnell Dinkins would see increased playing time.
Winslow is the team’s leading receiver with 19 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Winslow was OK Tuesday night, then woke up Wednesday morning feeling ill. He hasn’t practiced since.
• Defensive end Shaun Smith (hand) was downgraded to doubtful. He had surgery last week to repair a broken bone and was expecting to be cleared Friday from the surgeon, but wasn’t at practice Saturday in the half-hour open to the media.
• Right tackle Kevin Shaffer (concussion) was downgraded to doubtful. He hasn’t practiced since Wednesday, and Ryan Tucker will likely start in his place.
• Safety Sean Jones (knee) was limited in practice and said he’ll be a gametime decision.
• Receiver Donte Stallworth (quadriceps) said he will make his Browns debut Monday night.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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