Badgers add key piece at cornerback
Wisconsin added its second projected cornerback in the 2016 class with the addition of three-star senior Dontye Carriere-Williams from powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida.
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A 5-foot-10, 174-pound prospect, Carriere-Williams, the No. 55 cornerback in the 2016 class, took his official visit to Madison the weekend of Dec. 11 and decommitted from Cincinnati on Dec. 16. He is pledge No. 22 for the Badgers in the current cycle.
Im officially commited to the University of Wisconsin.
#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/1muaxnitaV— Dontye C. Williams (@D1c_era) December 20, 2015
Carriere-Williams joins fellow Florida standout Ke'Shan Pennamon as projected corners for position coach Daronte Jones. Three seniors from that position -- Darius Hillary, Terrance Floyd and T.J. Reynard -- are set to play their final game at UW on Dec. 30 against USC.
"That defense, basically I can come in and have a fair opportunity to play and get on the field," Carriere-Williams told BadgerBlitz.com in a previous interview. "They're opening up against LSU in the opener (next year), too -- that's huge. To have an opportunity to play against a national powerhouse team like LSU to start the year, granted that depends on me obtaining that role so early in my career, but that's huge for me."
Things moved quickly with Carrierre-Williams, who had been committed to Bearcats since last May. Assistant coach Inoke Breckterfield opened up conversation in late November and the official visit was enough for the flip.
"The coaches were really genuine," Carriere-Williams said. "I felt at home with the coaches. My comfort level was real high with the coaches as well as the players. I felt at home, and that's a big part of it.
"I feel like seeing the city was huge for me as well, just getting to go around and go to restaurants and seeing the lakes and whatnot, that was big for me."
The Badgers likely still have room for one more defensive back in the 2016 class. Patrice Rene is likely the top target, though the staff is also involved with a number of other prospects.
Wisconsin currently has 11 players from Florida on the current roster and three more, Pennamon, defensive end Keldric Preston and linebacker Dallas Jeanty, set to sign in February.