Evaluating the play of Wisconsin’s safeties during the 2019 season.
Wisconsin finished its fifth season under head coach Paul Chryst as Chryst improved his overall record to 52-16 and has a posted a 34-10 record in conference games. After not winning the Big Ten West Division title in 2018 the Badgers were back in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game as the West representative for the fourth time in the last six years since the Big Ten went to its current format.
In this Badgers Wire feature we will examine the play of Wisconsin’s safeties from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:
Wisconsin was only set to lose D’Cota Dixon to graduation following the 2018 season at the safety position as it was expected the starters for this past season would be redshirt sophomore Scott Nelson at free safety and redshirt freshman Reggie Pearson at strong safety.
Nelson who missed time as a redshirt freshman only played in one game this past year as he lost for the season with a left leg injury following Wisconsin’s game against South Florida.
Luckily for Wisconsin they had the depth to absorb the loss of Nelson as Eric Burrell stepped in seamlessly at the free safety position.
Between the combination of Burrell and Pearson, the duo formed a formidable safety combination in the Big Ten. As the two did well of making sure they didn’t allow a lot of chunk plays through the air.
Pearson led the two in tackles with 60 but Burrell wasn’t far behind with 55. If there was one area where Burrell succeeded from the safety position it was making a play on the ball as he picked off three passes, registered six pass breakups, forced two fumbles, and recovered two as well.
Burrell also was able to make his way into the backfield as he registered 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Pearson who is one of the bigger hitters on the defensive side of the football also made his presence in the backfield finishing the year with 3.5 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles.
Burrell was a consensus All-Big Ten Honorable mention selection due to his productivity throughout the season.
Although Pearson and Burrell were able to help make plays for Wisconsin from the safety position the Badgers also had a reliable third safety in Collin Wilder.
Wilder who had to sit out the 2018 season due to him transferring in from Houston was steady in his play. Wilder finished the season with 19 tackles but when the football was thrown in his direction it appeared that he was ready to try and make a play on the football as he registered an interception and broke up six passes.
Madison Cone split his defensive reps between the nickel cornerback position and also at safety. Cone did miss time this year because of injury, which affected his impact on the team as he finished the season with seven tackles in 10 games.
2020 Wisconsin Safeties
The way Burrell played throughout the course of the season will likely allow him to continue to be the starter at free safety. But having your backups at the safety positions be Nelson and Wilder the Badgers, if they want, should be able to interchange their safeties and be comfortable that there won’t be a drop off. In addition, the Badgers have done well in recruiting the position. Although the competition at safety will be high the Badgers will need to continue to develop players like Cone, John Torchio, and Titus Toler. Torchio finished the season in the two deep as he was Burrell’s backup at free safety. Torchio a walk-on saw most of his time when the game was decided but did start the game against Northwestern as Burrell had to miss the first half due to a targeting call. Torchio finished the season with three tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception. Torchio will be a name to keep your eye on as a potential contributor down the road.
