Â
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — The 2017 Wisconsin Football Spring Game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Fans heading to Camp Randall Stadium can also enjoy the Badger Sports Kids Fair (free admission) in the McClain Center starting at 5 p.m. Entry to the spring game is $5, with all proceeds benefitting the Waisman Center.
Leading up to the spring game, UWBadgers.com Senior Writer Mike Lucas has broken down the Wisconsin roster, position by position. He's tackled the offensive line, inside linebackers, tight ends, defensive backs, running backs, outside linebackers, wide receivers and now turns his attention to the Badgers' secondary.
NOTES & NOTABLES
STARTERS VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN IN COTTON BOWL: Sojourn Shelton, Derrick Tindal, Leo Musso, D'Cota Dixon.
STARTERS LOST: Shelton (51 career starts), Musso (17)
PLAYERS RETURNING WITH STARTING EXPERIENCE: Tindal (20 starts), Dixon (14), Lubern Figaro (11), Natrell Jamerson (1), Joe Ferguson (1)
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Dixon 60 tackles (4 interceptions), Tindal 34 (3), Jamerson 19
SAFETY, FIRST AND FOREMOST
Spring transitions are nothing to Natrell Jamerson, a senior from Ocala, Florida. After lettering as a true freshman wide receiver who appeared in 12 games in 2014 but didn't have a catch, he was converted the following spring into a cornerback, a position that he played in high school. The last two seasons, he played in 21 games at defensive back, many as a nickel back or the third corner in passing situations. Jamerson was on the move again this past offseason from corner to safety, where he has lined up with D'Cota Dixon. "His athleticism is very exciting to me at the safety position," said UW secondary coach and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. "He has handled it very well. I like where he's at. Obviously, he has to continue to grow over the summer to feel comfortable (at the position) next fall."
Jamerson's experience as a slot corner hasn't hurt. "Playing nickel and corner, I feel like it has helped a lot — just knowing leverages and where your help is and all of that," said Jamerson. "The biggest difference was getting the calls at corner and now being the one making the calls at safety." When in doubt, he hasn't been afraid to ask for help from Dixon and Joe Ferguson. "D'Cota is like a big brother," Jamerson said. "Any question that I've had got, he helps me out. Fergie (Ferguson) is the same way. He has been playing for awhile. If I don't feel confident about something, either one of them will help me out, no problem." How would Jamerson describe his new role at safety? "My job description," he said, "is to make plays. That's all I'm really focused on doing. Compete every day and do what Coach (Leonhard) tells me to do and make sure I do it the correct way."
Jamerson, left, is adjusting to a new role with help from veterans Tindal, center, and Dixon.
NO ORDINARY JOE
The Badgers have been smart about not over-exposing Dixon this spring — they know what he can do — and that has opened up more reps for Ferguson, who has taken advantage of the opportunities. "Hands down," Leonhard said, "he's playing his best football here at Wisconsin. He has been highly productive and making a lot of plays. He's playing very fast, which is great to see." Ferguson, a fifth-year senior, has taken nothing for granted. "My goal was to trust everything, play fast, make really fast decisions," he said. "Trust your ability; trust you belong on this defense. There's that sense of urgency (as a senior). It's my last season so obviously I do want to make my mark." To do that, he repeated, "You have to trust you have the ability to go and make the play, and you have to go and actually do it. I think when you're younger, you hesitate a little bit. You don't trust your ability as much. But now it's time to go."
QUOTE TO NOTE
On what he wanted to see out of his secondary, especially the unproven players, Leonhard said, "Like every position, you're looking for the guys to step into those new roles. You lose the experience of Sojourn (Shelton), you lose the playmaking and leadership that Moose (Leo Musso) brought last year. I just want to see the guys, whether they played or not, take that next step, whatever that is for them. I've been happy with the approach they've had. Guys have come out to work and get better. You look at what Dontye Carriere-Williams and Caesar Williams and Madison Cone and Eric Burrell and Patrick Johnson and Seth Currens have done, and it's been fun to watch them grow."
Dixon will be one of the group's on-field leaders for defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
NOTE TO QUOTE
Wisconsin led the Big Ten with 22 interceptions, one more than Ohio State and the most here since 2002 when the Badgers also had 22 picks, 11 by Leonhard. Only San Diego State (26) had more nationally in 2016 than the Badgers, who were led by Musso (5), Shelton (4) and Dixon (4).
TINDAL ALL IN
Shelton was a four-year fixture in the secondary, an unsung member of what has been annually one of the best defenses in the nation. Tindal, who will be joined at corner by Hawaii transfer Nick Nelson, wants to do everything with his power to fill the void. "I've tried to step into Sojourn Shelton's role," said Tindal, a senior from Fort Lauderdale. "I just want to be that person in the group when somebody needs something in their personal life or on the football field, I can help them with it. I'm just basically trying to model myself after Sojourn."
MENTORING MATTERS
After Thursday's practice, Tindal held court with a group of McFarland High School students that he has been mentoring as part of his initiative to reach out to young people. "I had mentors growing up and if I didn't have them, I don't know where I would be right now," he said. "I know some kids struggle, especially young black kids. I just want to help them anyway I can — if it's bringing them to a practice, or just motivating them to go to school and be a good person. That's all I'm trying to do. I've been through a lot of things they've been through. I've learned a lot of things. Just doing it for the kids."
