Lyn-J Dixon originally wanted to wait until national signing day in February to ink his letter of intent.

However, the four-star running back from Butler (Ga.) Taylor County recently had a change of heart. Dixon decided it would be in his best interest to go ahead and sign with his school of choice during the early signing period that begins Wednesday.

“This (early signing period) can be crucial because you would take a big risk just by waiting until February because all the spots could be filled up,” Dixon told The Clemson Insider. “I decided to be on the safe side and make my commitment on the 19th and sign on the 20th.”

Dixon took a big step toward that commitment decision on Thursday when he named Clemson and Oklahoma State the two finalists in his recruitment via Twitter.

“Both of the two schools showed me the most love,” Dixon said. “They came to see me at my school numerous times.

“Clemson, they have kept it real with me ever since they started recruiting me. And Oklahoma State, they really showed me a lot of love and made me feel wanted up there. So that made me narrow it down to those two schools.”

Dixon was committed to Tennessee before he reopened his recruitment in October. Clemson has recruited Dixon for quite some time but didn’t extend an offer to him until July, a month after he pledged to the Volunteers in June.

The Tigers got Dixon on campus for the All In Cookout in late July, and he returned to Clemson for his official visit the weekend of The Citadel game in November.

“That trip was great,” Dixon said. “Coming to Clemson for an official visit, I really felt the family atmosphere.”

Dixon made his final official visit to Oklahoma State this weekend.

“I enjoyed it,” he said. “It was a good trip. Very good official visit. I really enjoyed my time with my family up there.”

Now, after returning home, Dixon will hunker down and hone in on rendering his decision.

“I’m planning on committing on Tuesday and signing on Wednesday,” he said.

Asked if he was leaning one way or the other, Dixon said it was still a toss-up in his mind as of Sunday afternoon.

“I need to take these last couple days to think about what school I want to go to because right now it has really become a hard decision after this visit to Oklahoma State,” he said. “It’s really going to be hard on me, so these couple days are going to help me figure it out.”

Dixon said he has been hearing from Clemson co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Tony Elliott “pretty much every day.”

“It’s a real strong relationship that we have,” Dixon said.

What is the message from Elliott as Dixon closes is on his decision?

“Really he just wants me to do what’s best for me,” Dixon said.

When he looks at his option of Clemson, Dixon said its fans, family atmosphere and the straightforwardness of the coaching staff stand out.

“Clemson catches my eye because of their fans,” he said. “Their fans are crazy, tailgating and all that. And the family atmosphere up there and how the coaches keep it real with you. They don’t tell any lies, they don’t sugarcoat anything. They just tell you straight up what it (will be like) if you decide to come to their college.

“And a same thing goes with Oklahoma State. It’s pretty much like an equal set of things, so like I said, it will be a hard decision that I will be making.”

Dixon (5-11, 178) rushed for more than 5,000 yards and 70 touchdowns in his four high school seasons while recording over 1,000 receiving yards. He is ranked by ESPN as a top-10 running back and top-200 overall prospect in the 2018 class.

Dixon will not be an early enrollee.