Entering the 2019 season, the Dallas Cowboys were looking to upgrade the safety position. Instead of taking one early in the NFL Draft, as many expected, they waited until the sixth-round to select Donovan Wilson out of Texas A&M.
Wilson didn’t waste any time making an impact once his opportunities came about. In the preseason, he intercepted a pass in three consecutive games and had Cowboys fans buzzing about the possibility of the young stud starting. However, he suffered an ankle injury just prior to the season which halted his momentum and allowed Jeff Heath to remain as the starter opposite Xavier Woods.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a monkey wrench into the normal offseason protocol for the NFL. That hasn’t stopped Wilson from staying in excellent shape, though, as a recent video of him surfaced on social media showcasing his quick feet and change of direction as he performed some drills.
Coming out of college, it was Wilson’s versatility that made him such an interesting selection. In addition to playing safety, he spent significant time at nickel corner as well. He amassed 21.5 tackles for loss as well as eight interceptions, showing not only could he make plays behind the line of scrimmage but that he possessed the ability to create turnovers, something the Cowboys defense has lacked for years.
Heading into this season, Woods and veteran Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who was acquired during free agency, are the presumed starters at safety. Also, Darian Thompson was re-signed and it looks like Chidobe Awuzie will be making a transition to safety as well. That makes Wilson’s journey to see the field a lot tougher, but we’re talking NFL football here not baking pies, it’s supposed to be.
There’s no limit to where Wilson can take his game. Now, it’ll be interesting to see if he can claw his way up the depth chart and contribute big this season.
