Burrell ready for his first start at safety
Nelson must sit for first half of UW-Michigan
MADISON - This isn’t the ideal way for Eric Burrell to get his first start at safety for the University of Wisconsin.
But the redshirt sophomore from Severna, Maryland, will be confident when he trots on the Michigan Stadium field when the Badgers (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) take on the Wolverines (5-1, 3-0) on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Burrell will be in the starting lineup in place of redshirt freshman Scott Nelson, who will be forced to sit out the first half after getting ejected for targeting late in the third quarter of UW’s 41-24 victory over Nebraska.
Burrell jumped right in for Nelson in that game.
“I thought it was fun,” Burrell said Wednesday. “I thought I played well. Watched film and there’s still stuff I need to clean up. But overall it was a good day.”
Burrell finished with two tackles and his first pass defensed this season against the Cornhuskers.
“There’s always stuff (to improve on),” Burrell said. “Better tackling, better coverage. Just other stuff like that, being disciplined enough. Just stuff that I saw on film, relying off it and playing fast.”
So now Burrell will have to start on the road in a night game in front of more than100,000 fans against the offensively balanced Wolverines, who are ranked No. 13 in the Amway coaches poll and No. 12 by the Associated Press.
“They got a lot of concepts,” Burrell said. “It does mess with your eyes a lot. I think with the defense we got, we’ve just got to be disciplined.”
Burrell appeared in all 14 games last season and in every contest this season, so he will not be completely overwhelmed.
“Eric hasn’t had a lot of snaps at safety but he has been around and he’s been working,” UW head coach Paul Chryst said. “He needs to have a great week of prep this week but he’s ready for this opportunity.”
Burrell’s fellow safeties also aren’t worried about the sophomore.
D’Cota Dixon, who will start alongside Burrell, called his teammate “smart” and “reliable.”
“Obviously, you get more reps, you get more comfortable adjusting to the games,” Dixon said.
Nelson didn’t feel like it was necessary to pull aside Burrell and give him specific advice.
“He’s played before,” Nelson said. “He’s played in big games. He’s played last year, this year. He knows what he’s going to do.
“If he has any questions, I know he’ll come to me, he’ll ask me. If he has any questions for D’Cota, he’ll ask him. Same thing with Coach (Jim) Leonhard (defensive coordinator). I have full confidence that he’ll be at full confidence.”
Nelson has started every game this season and has recorded 25 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and six passes defensed.
He’s also a key member of UW’s special teams.
“A number of people will have to step in and step up while he can’t go,” Chryst said. “That happens a lot in the season. That’s why we talk all the time, you’ve got to continue to work and opportunities will come along. You don’t know how.
“But it’s a pretty good bet that your opportunity’s going to come and you need to make sure to work and prepare so you’re ready for that. That’s why I feel good about Eric. Eric’s done that.”
Burrell didn’t want to make a big deal out of his first start, although he admitted to thinking a lot about it.
“You treat it like any other game with practice,” he said. “Just go out there and have fun with your boys. I’m just excited.
“I’d be excited even if I wasn’t starting. It’s a good atmosphere to be there. This is my first time in Michigan, so I’m excited.”