NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Rehabilitation Psychology – 3.32 GPA
Head Coach: Paul Chryst | Athletics Director: Barry Alvarez
Faculty Athletics Representatives: Peter Miller and Jeanette Roberts
Already pursuing a master’s degree, D’Cota Dixon overcame numerous obstacles to become one of Wisconsin’s top scholar-athletes. The standout safety becomes the Badgers’ sixth NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
Dixon is currently pursuing a master’s in counseling psychology after graduating in May 2018 with a degree in rehabilitation psychology. The Oak Hill, Florida, native twice earned academic all-conference honors and was named a 2017 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. Chosen as the 2017-18 University of Wisconsin Student-Athlete of the Year across all sports, Dixon is a member of the Dean’s List and was chosen as a recipient of the 2017 Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award.
This season, Dixon has recorded 37 tackles while leading the Badgers to a 7-4 record and bowl eligibility for the 17th consecutive season. The team captain’s best performance of the season came in a win over New Mexico, when he led the team with nine tackles, including one for loss.
Boasting 171 career tackles, Dixon earned First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 after receiving third team recognition in 2016. Guiding Wisconsin to consecutive division titles and berths in the Big Ten Championship Game, he also led the Badgers to three consecutive postseason wins in the 2015 Holiday, 2017 Cotton and 2017 Orange bowls. A key contributor to the 2016 Wisconsin defense that led the Big Ten with 22 interceptions, Dixon has helped the Badgers to national rankings in each of the last three seasons, including a No. 7 finish in 2017 and a No. 9 final ranking in 2016.
An inspiration to others, Dixon was awarded the 2017 FWAA/Orange Bowl Courage Award for overcoming an unstable family life that included numerous foster homes, a father battling addiction and for surviving a life-threatening infection while at Wisconsin. Despite everything he endured, Dixon became a positive and active volunteer, and he was selected to the 2018 AFCA Good Works Team. The 2018 Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist's numerous community activities include mentoring youth at a correctional center, developing a program for student-athletes aimed at reducing the stigma of seeking mental health services and speaking to countless community and youth groups. He is currently a member of the American Raptors Professional Rugby team.
