Wisconsin Football: 5 breakout players to watch in 2018

2. Dontye Carriere-Williams, CB (So.)

Another player that had to wait his turn in 2017 gives analysts nothing to work with when it comes to looking at the numbers. A stacked secondary allowed Dontye Carriere-Williams to observe behind some great cornerbacks in Nick Nelson and Derrick Tindal.

Next season will be a new wave of young corners taking over the secondary. At the corner position the most experienced returner will be Carriere-Williams. He comes in with 30 total tackles, six pass breakups and one interception.

While the cornerback rotation and starters are from determined with fellow young corner Faion Hicks and newcomer Donte Burton in the mix, Carriere-Williams enters in with pivotal in-game action as he had to step in every now and then as a nickel corner or an extra coverage man when Tindal or Dixon were banged up.

There is not a whole lot of numbers that make a case for why or how Carriere-Williams will be a breakout player in 2018. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is a secondary man himself, so there is no question that this young group will take on the “next man up” mentality. Overall, any one of the young new secondary players could become the next great at Wisconsin, but based on his contributions last season as a true freshman and a part of the best defense in the nation- Carriere-Willams seems like a safe bet to break out.

Athlon Sports also lists Carriere-Williams as one of their breakout players in the entire nation after he was listed on the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team.