TRANSACTION
Safety Dezmen Southward was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round (68th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2013: Consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten
2012: Consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten
CAREER STATS
Set school record by playing in 54 games, never missing a game over his four-year career. Started 30 games, including 28 consecutive contests to end his career. Recorded 152 total tackles and 11.5 TFLs, forcing four fumbles. Made two interceptions and broke up 11 passes
2013 SEASON
Earned fourth letter, starting all 13 games. finished fifth on team with 40 total tackles, including 3.5 TFLs. Recorded three tackles in Capital One Bowl vs. South Carolina on Jan. 1. Tallied six tackles and broke up a pass vs. Penn State on Nov. 30. saw action at Minnesota on Nov. 23. made three tackles and broke up a pass vs. Indiana on Nov. 16. Tallied four tackles and broke up a pass vs. BYU on Nov. 9. Made four tackles, including 1.0 TFLs, forced a fumble, broke up a pass and had a QB hurry at Iowa on Nov. 2. had four tackles, including 1.5 for loss, at Illinois on Oct. 19. made two tackles vs. Northwestern on Oct. 12. Tallied one tackle at Ohio State on Sept. 28. Had two tackles, including 1.0 for loss, vs. Purdue on Sept. 21. Registered six tackles, one pass break up and an interception at Arizona State on Sept. 14. Made two tackles and recovered a fumble vs. Tennessee Tech on Sept. 7. Recorded three tackles vs. UMass on Aug. 31.
2012 SEASON
Earned third letter, starting all 14 games. Finished fourth on team with 69 total tackles, including 8.0 TFLs. Collected seven tackles, including 1.0 for loss against Stanford in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Recorded a career-high 10 tackles in the Big Ten Championship Game against Nebraska on Dec. 1. Tallied four tackles and broke up one pass at Penn State on Nov. 24. had four tackles, including 2.0 for loss, against Ohio State on Nov. 17. Tallied two tackles, including 1.0 for loss, at Indiana on Nov. 10. Recorded five tackles, including 1.0 for loss, against Michigan State on Oct. 27. Collected two tackles against Minnesota on Oct. 20. Intercepted first career pass at Purdue on Oct. 13, and also recorded five tackles, including on for loss. Tallied two tackles, including 0.5 FFL, against Illinois on Oct. 6. Recorded six tackles and forced one fumble at Nebraska on Sept. 29. Finished with six tackles, including 0.5 TFL, and one pass break up against UTEP on Sept. 22. Recorded five tackles, 1.0 TFL and broke up one pass against Utah State on Sept. 15. Made six tackles and broke up one pass at Oregon State on Sept. 8. Recorded five tackles against Northern Iowa on Sept. 1
2011 SEASON
Earned second letter, playing in all 14 games with three starts. Started in Rose Bowl vs. Oregon and had five tackles. Recorded two tackles against Penn State on Nov. 26. Made one tackle at Minnesota on Nov. 12. Finished with three tackles against Purdue on Nov. 5. Recorded two tackles at Ohio State on Oct. 29. Posted two tackles at Michigan State on Oct. 22. Tallied three tackles against Indiana on Oct. 15. Made first start of career and set career high with seven tackles, also broke up a pass and forced a fumble, against Nebraska on Oct. 1. Picked up three tackles against South Dakota on Sept. 24. Recorded one tackle against Northern Illinois on Sept. 17. Forced a fumble, broke up a pass and made two tackles against Oregon State on Sept. 10. Notched four tackles against UNLV on Sept. 1
2010 SEASON
Earned first letter, playing in all 13 games. Recorded one tackle against TCU in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Made one tackle at Michigan on Nov. 20. Recorded one tackle at Purdue on Nov. 6. Posted one tackle against Minnesota on Oct. 9. Made one tackle on kickoff coverage at Michigan State on Oct. 2. Recorded one tackle against Austin Peay on Sept. 25. Had one tackle against Arizona State on Sept. 18. Had one tackle in his Badger debut at UNLV on Sept. 4
2009 SEASON
Redshirted his first season at Wisconsin.
HIGH SCHOOL
First year playing organized football as a senior. Had two interceptions in his high school career. Was the starting defensive back for a National Championship team as a senior. Was a three-time letter winner in basketball. Was a three-year captain and two-time basketball MVP. He also competed in track and field. Was an honor student, finishing high school with a 3.6 cumulative GPA. His high school head coach was George Smith.
PERSONAL
Parents are Caprice Southward and Eli Rasheed. Stepfather Eli played football at Indiana and is currently the defensive line coach at Toledo University. He enjoys cooking, reading and volunteering his time with community outreach. Southward majored in agricultural business, with a focus in communication.