Dotson became the first second-round MLS SuperDraft pick in MNUFC history to sign a professional contract with the Loons after being selected as the 31st pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. The midfielder signed a three-year contract ahead of the 2022 season, looking to solidify his spot as a starting defensive midfielder. Dotson started the first seven games of the 2022 season, scoring one goal and adding two assists before tearing his ACL in April and missing the remainder of the 2022 season. Dotson made his return to the pitch in the 2023 season opener against FC Dallas. He would go on to make his 100th MLS regular-season appearance, reaching 112 appearances by the end of the season. The Washington native played in all 34 regular-season matches (the most of any player in 2023) and scored three goals.
In his five seasons with Minnesota, Dotson has made 128 appearances for MNUFC across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists. He became a must-have on the gameday roster with his versatility, stepping up all over the field by playing defensive midfielder, wingback, fullback, and winger.
The 26-year-old was a revelation in his rookie season for Minnesota, making 24 appearances in 2019. He contributed to seven clean sheets and scored four goals, including the tally that clinched the Loons’ first playoff berth in franchise history. He made five appearances in the club’s U.S. Open Cup run and provided two assists. His rookie performance earned recognition from the league, appearing twice on the bench of the MLS Team of the Week and as a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year.
Dotson played his college soccer at Oregon State, where he was named to the USC Second Team All-Far West Region, the Second Team All-Pac-12 Conference, and was a Pac-12 Conference Academic Honorable Mention in his senior year.
In 2022, Dotson married his longtime girlfriend Petra, and the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Gia Valentina. Dotson proposed to Petra on the field after a Minnesota United home game at Allianz Field in 2021.
INTERNATIONAL: Between 2019 and 2021, Dotson was called up several times to the U.S. U23 Men’s National Team for international friendlies ahead of Olympic Qualifying. He was named to the US23 Olympic Qualifying team and made his USYNT scoring debut with a pair of goals only five minutes apart in the USYNT 4-0 win over the Dominican Republic in Olympic Qualifying.
