UW’s secondary depth takes a hit
MADISON – Whether Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard opts to start four or five defensive backs in the opener Friday against Western Kentucky, the secondary that takes the field likely will have a combined 23 starts. All by senior safety D’Cota Dixon. Dontye Carriere-Williams, who with five starts entered preseason camp as UW’s most experienced cornerback, announced late Wednesday on Twitter he is transferring.
His announcement came just two days before UW is scheduled to open the season against visiting Western Kentucky.
Carriere-Williams was UW’s No. 3 cornerback last season, behind Derrick Tindal and Nick Nelson.
He played in all 14 games and recorded 22 solo tackles and 30 overall. He also broke up seven passes and recorded one interception.
He spent most of camp working on the No. 2 defense, however, and was listed on that unit on the team’s initial depth chart this week.
Carriere-Williams was not satisfied in that role and based on comments by Leonhard was not pushing hard enough to move up the depth chart.
“It is just consistency,” Leonhard said. “The highs are high. … It is just consistency and effort in practice. … I like some of the things he has done but I just want to see more.”
UW’s top two cornerbacks at the close of camp were redshirt freshman Faion Hicks and redshirt sophomore Caesar Williams, who played in just two games last season. Redshirt freshman Scott Nelson is set to start at safety with Dixon.
Carriere-Williams and sophomore Madison Cone were the second-team cornerbacks.
The departure of Carriere-Williams provides an opportunity for another player to earn playing time. Two candidates are redshirt freshman Deron Harrell and freshman Donte Burton.
Curiously, head coach Paul Chryst said during his radio show Wednesday he expected Burton to be among the freshmen expected to play immediately. The others mentioned by Chryst were safety Reggie Pearson and nose tackle Bryson Williams.
All three enrolled at UW in January and participated in spring ball.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Leonhard predicted he would use as many defensive backs as necessary in the opener Friday night and beyond.
“I need to find out how some of these guys are going to respond in game situations,” he said.
“The different roles, they are going to be ever evolving throughout this season because it is that close.
“I think there are guys that are trending upward and there are guys kind of stuck where they’re at … just kind of what they’re putting on film every day.”