Dallas Cowboys Safety Donovan Wilson is a Future NFL Superstar
It is well known that the Dallas Cowboys' defense was historically bad this season and was arguably the worst in the NFL. Dallas gave up 30 points per game, over 380 total yards per game, and ranked 23rd in the league in total defense during the 2020 season. However, despite all their flaws on the […]
It is well known that the Dallas Cowboys' defense was historically bad this season and was arguably the worst in the NFL. Dallas gave up 30 points per game, over 380 total yards per game, and ranked 23rd in the league in total defense during the 2020 season.
However, despite all their flaws on the defensive side of the ball, Dallas has a future superstar in their secondary.
The player I'm talking about was a complete afterthought on this Dallas defense until he took advantage of his opportunities in week 4 against Cleveland, and then continued his production for the rest of the season.
His name is Donovan Wilson.
Safety Donovan Wilson has been a force this season for the Dallas Cowboys, tallying 71 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries in 14 games. The second-year defensive back out of Texas A&M has shown to be the playmaking safety that this team was severely lacking before he made his presence known.
Wilson’s break-out performance came in week 11 against the Vikings, when he recorded 9 tackles, .5 sack, and forced 2 game-changing fumbles, proving himself to be a difference-maker in the secondary.
Donovan Wilson’s coming out party in Minnesota got off to a hot start after an impressive strip-sack on Kirk Cousins on a key 2nd-and-6 in the first quarter, similar to the one he had on Carson Wentz 2 weeks earlier.
This was a pivotal play in the game because the Cowboys were rewarded with great field position and capitalized off it, taking an early 7-0 lead 3 plays later.
Wilson made an even more impressive play right before halftime where he caused another fumble, this time by laying out Dalvin Cook.
This is a phenomenal play by Wilson. Originally, he’s looking to jump Justin Jefferson’s dig route which causes Kirk Cousins to throw the angle route to Dalvin Cook, but Wilson effortlessly changes his point of attack and lays the wood on Dalvin Cook. Dallas recovered the fumble and was able to tack on 3 more points right before halftime.
These were both game-changing plays that show the tremendous upside that Donovan Wilson has. He’s a heavy hitter that possesses elite awareness as well.
At 6’0 204 with 33-inch arms, the intriguing second year defender has the prototype build to play safety in todays NFL. On top of that, Wilson has the skill-set to be used as a chess piece all over the defense; he's able to play as a ball-hawking deep safety, can play in the slot, and can even blitz off the edge. As long as he continues to develop, the sky is the limit for him.
It has been a disappointing season for the Dallas Cowboys to say the least, but Donovan Wilson’s emergence has been a huge bright spot. Moving forward, Mike McCarthy should feel good about building his defense around their young studs in Donovan Wilson, Trevon Diggs, and Neville Gallimore.
Featured Image Via © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
