UW’s Leonhard plans to rely on a deep secondary
MADISON – Jim Leonhard is predictable.
In his five seasons on Wisconsin’s coaching staff, including the last four as defensive coordinator, Leonhard has consistently given playing time to reserves at both cornerback and safety.
Any reserve capable of making plays and keeping the starters fresh knows to be ready because his time will come.
Leonhard’s workload and responsibilities will change slightly in 2021 with the addition of cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat, but don’t expect UW’s defensive coordinator to alter his approach of using as many capable players as he can.
“I’m not afraid to play guys and we have a lot of depth,” Leonhard said.
The top four players in the secondary when UW wrapped up spring practice in April were cornerbacks Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams and safeties Scott Nelson and Collin Wilder.
Hicks has 28 starts and 33 games played. He can line up on the outside or in the slot as the nickel cornerback. He took over the nickel corner role last season after Rachad Wildgoose suffered a season-ending injury at Northwestern.
“I think he is the guy to beat out,” Leonhard
INSIDE THE HUDDLE
Jim Leonhard was in his first season as UW defensive coordinator in 2017 when Natrell Jamerson, who played cornerback the previous two seasons, was moved to safety.
Jamerson, 6-foot and 198 pounds, could run like a cornerback and hit like a linebacker. He finished that season tied for second on the team in passes broken up with 10 and sixth in tackles with 51.
Leonhard sees similar skills in Travian Blaylock and Titus Toler. Blaylock started out at cornerback and has been limited to 12 games in his first three seasons because of injuries. Toler was limited to two games last season because of injury.
“They are two guys that bring that versatility,” Leonhard said. “The ability to cover. The ability to play in space. But also the physical aspect at the line of scrimmage.”
Senior cornerback Faion Hicks noted during the spring he believes freshman cornerback Al Ashford will be an impact player.
“One thing that surprised me as a freshman was his ability to be calm and patient as a corner,” Hicks said. “You don’t see that in a younger corner, especially coming out of high school. He has a bright future.”
Another player who appears to have similar potential is freshman safety Hunter Wohler. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder from Muskego chose UW over Ohio State, Notre Dame, Stanford, Michigan, Michigan State and others.
said, referring to the nickel cornerback position. “I don’t think he got near enough credit as that season went on what he was able to do in the slot for us.”
Williams has 19 starts and 35 games played.
Nelson started six of seven games last year, missing the opener while recovering from COVID-19. He finished sixth on the team in tackles (22), including four for loss, and led the team in interceptions (two). Wilder finished last season finished third on the team in tackles (30) and recorded his lone interception in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
How many cornerbacks does Leonhard trust? He played eight in the bowl game and everyone returns in 2021.
Players such as Donte Burton, Deron Harrell and Semar Melvin have gotten work during games when the outcome was still in doubt.
Two players who performed well during the spring were Alexander Smith and Dean Engram.
Leonhard and Poteat believe they are versatile enough to play on the perimeter or in the slot.
“They want to get on the field,” Poteat said. “They’re doing a good job of retaining the information and understanding where they fit within the defense. They’re starting to pick up the techniques and understand how to read the receivers.”
During the spring Leonhard gave plenty of time to reserve safeties John Torchio and Tyler Mais and Preston Zachman, who switched from linebacker. Leonhard also believes Travian Blaylock and Titus Toler can compete for playing time but both safeties missed time in spring because of injuries.
“We lose Eric Burrell, who has been a consistent playmaker for us over the years,” Leonhard said. “(But) we have a number of guys that I think can compete to earn more reps and get in the rotation.”