In Montana, he is known as "Super Dave" and "The Legend of the Fall." His college jersey number, 15, was retired by the University of Montana. He is one of only two players so honored. In 1999, Dickenson was listed as the 12th best Athlete to ever come out of Montana in Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary Issue. In 2004, he was voted the most popular athlete from Montana in a Sports Illustrated poll. In 2013, he was listed number one on a list of the Big Sky Conference 50 Greatest Male Athletes. In December 2018, he was to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.