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Cowboys ‘Enforcer’ Donovan Wilson Listed As Breakout Star

Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson appeared on a new list ranking 2023 breakout candidates.

Tim Kelly

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With the addition of former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, the Dallas Cowboys project to have one of the top cornerback tandems in the NFL this season between him and Trevon Diggs. With the emergence of another star in the secondary, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn could have one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL at his disposal. 

To that end, USA Today recently listed a potential breakout candidate for each team during the 2023 season. Fifth-year safety Donovan Wilson was mentioned as a possibility in Dallas: 

"A hard-hitting enforcer who is also capable in coverage, Wilson totaled over 100 tackles and brought the blitzing work as well with five sacks. Dallas runs a three-headed safety approach and Wilson is now the lead dog in the pack. Continued pass-rush success and a couple more interceptions will place him on a national stage in 2023."

A sixth-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2019, Wilson rebounded after being limited to just nine games in 2021 to turn in the best season of his career a year ago. In 17 games, he recorded 101 combined tackles, nine quarterback hits, seven tackles for a loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception. If the 28-year-old has another level he can reach in 2023, he could be someone who garners All-Pro consideration. 

Such an emergence would help the Cowboys to close the gap in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles, who won the division with 14 wins a season ago and will enter 2023 as the favorites to take home the crown again this year. 

It's also worth pointing out that the Cowboys inked Wilson to a three-year/$21 million deal with $13.5 million in guarantees back in March. Said deal could look especially team friendly if Wilson has a career year in 2023. 

You can follow Tim Kelly @TimKellySports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Tim Kelly
TIM KELLY

Tim Kelly is a contributor to SI's NFL team sites. Additionally, Kelly covers the Philadelphia Phillies as the Editorial Director for PhilliesNation.com. Previously, Kelly has been a producer at SportsRadio 94 WIP and a content producer for Audacy Sports, with written content syndicated to WIP, WFAN, WEEI and some of the biggest sports radio stations in the country. Kelly also has contributed to Bleacher Report, Just Baseball, Sports Talk Philly and Section 215, FanSided's Philadelphia affiliate. Kelly is a 2018 graduate of Bloomsburg University, with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in political science. 

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