Tom Nickoloff, former USC receiver, dies at 84

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:22 p.m. ET

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LOS ANGELES (AP) Tom Nickoloff, a receiver who played on Southern California's 10-1 team that beat Wisconsin in the 1953 Rose Bowl, has died. He was 84.

The university said Wednesday that Nickoloff died on Oct. 23 of complications from Alzheimer's disease in Woodland Hills.

Nickoloff was captain of the 1953 USC football team that defeated the Badgers 7-0 in the Rose Bowl game. He had seven catches for 73 yards in the win.

He led the Trojans in receiving in 1952 and '53. Nickoloff caught 25 passes and had three touchdowns as a junior. All of his catches that season came in the game against Stanford. As a senior, he had 15 catches and two touchdowns. He played in the 1954 Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Game before being a third-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1954.

However, he never played in the NFL because of injuries sustained in a car accident.

Nickoloff went on to work as a civil defense attorney.

He is survived by Betty, his wife of 59 years, and children Tim, Kevin and Laurie.