Seven Questions with Lawless Republic about BYU by Noah Seligman

Wisconsin football received good news on Tuesday as safety D’Cota Dixon gets another year in Madison.

The NCAA granted Wisconsin safety D’Cota Dixon has a medical hardship exemption giving him an extra season for the Badgers. So he is now technically a redshirt junior and not a senior.

Dixon only played in three games in the 2014 season, prompting the successful request for an extra year.

He also has a tremendous personal story and was honored with the Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Award.

In 2015, he played in all 13 games but it wasn’t until 2016 that he really emerged, starting all 14 games. Dixon had to replace Michael Caputo and he filled in nicely next to Leo Musso.

Last season, Dixon tied for 4th on the Badgers with 60 tackles (2.5 tackles-for-loss). He added four interceptions, a forced fumble, and fumble recovery.

Dixon is an important part of the Badger secondary. His presence in 2018 is especially relevant considering the other starting safety Natrell Jamerson is a senior.

Therefore, Wisconsin won’t have to replace both starting safeties next fall. They know they’ll have at least one returning leader.

The Badgers have 10 safeties on the roster, with Jamerson and pick-6 specialist Joe Ferguson the only seniors. In fact, the Badgers have six freshman and sophomore at the position. As a result, keeping the experienced Dixon an extra season is especially important.

Like lots of teams, the Badgers lean on their safeties to provide help in pass coverage and in the box in run support. They also tend not to use the safeties interchangeably lessening any distinction between a free or strong safety.

Wisconsin linebacker Chris Orr was also given an extra year recently as well. Orr is a redshirt sophomore thus has two years in Madison is he wants both.