UW’s Williams is the man with a plan
MADISON – Senior Caesar Williams smiles when he recalls his days as a newbie cornerback at Wisconsin.
“My first year I’m just out there playing, with no plan,” he acknowledged during a recent Zoom session.
That was 2018. After playing sparingly in two games as a redshirt freshman in 2017, Williams started five games and played in 12 in ’18.
His play was solid, and he finished with an interception, four passes defended and 25 tackles. He formulated a
plan to improve his game in ’19 and push for a spot in the NFL.
Williams started seven games last season and played in all 14. He had one interception and led the team in passed defended with 12. He recorded the interception and finished with four passes defended in UW’s 38-17 victory over Minnesota in the regular-season finale.
“I feel like the NFL was a realistic goal for me last year after the season I had,” he said.
“Now, I study formations, study receivers and just put it all together. I’m learning more about our (entire) defense, more than just what I’ve got to do this play. I like to know the guy next to me, know his assignment and know where my help is.”
Williams insists he is thinking most this week about UW’s game against Wake Forest on Wednesday in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
“My focus right now is ending the year on a win, and then make a decision based off that,” he said.
UW (3-3) enters the bowl game fifth nationally in passing yards allowed at 169.8 yards per game.
The unit’s worst day came in the 28-7 loss to Iowa. Quarterback Spencer Petras completed only 14 of 25 attempts but he averaged 15.1 yards per completion and finished with 211 yards and two scores.
Wake Forest (4-4) is tied for 33rd nationally in passing offense at 265.8 yards per game.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Hartman is completing 59% of his passes for an average of 238.3 yards per game, with 10 touchdowns and only one interception in 236 attempts.
Hartman has a trio of dependable wide receivers, redshirt junior Jaquarii Roberson, redshirt freshman Donavon Greene and redshirt freshman Taylor Morin.
Roberson (54 catches, 795 yards, five touchdowns), Greene (23-460-2) and Morin (27-314-3) have combined for 104 catches for 1,569 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“They’re talented on offense,” UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “They have great skill. … The QB, he is a streaky guy sometimes, but he can make some throws down the field that are impressive.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
Williams, who has nine tackles and two pass defended in six games this season, is eager to test his game against the Wake Forest receivers. Leonhard challenged the secondary this season to be more consistent than in past seasons. “He puts a lot on our group to win games, make plays,” Williams said. “So just trusting what he knows and trusting what he tells us and at the same time being a quick learner and applying that knowledge onto the field.”
What factors will Williams way off the field regarding his future? Several.
Do scouts want to see him improve his game? Will post-season all-star games be held? Will the NFL Combine be held?
“During this time you want to play everything smart because (of) COVID and everything is unpredictable,” Williams said. “Who knows if the combine will get canceled? It might be virtual and that’s just not an experience that I want to go through. I want to have the full experience.
“I know what I am capable of to do at the next level.”