Name: D.J. Waller, Jr.
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Youngstown (OH) Chaney
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Waller was a senior in high school. He made 47 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception.
TTB Rating: N/A
Waller was a late add to Michigan's class in the early signing period. He was not offered until November of his senior year, and he didn't commit to the Wolverines until December 18, just three days before National Signing Day. He was ranked as a 3-star, the #73 cornerback, and #703 overall in the 247 Composite rankings. He committed at such a busy time - and so little was known about him - that it turns out I didn't even write a commitment post for him, which was an oversight on my part.
Anyway, Waller was a high school safety and wide receiver who's ranked as a cornerback but who some think might be a linebacker in college. I have seen some comparisons to former Michigan cornerback Jeremy Clark, who was 6'3" and 220 lbs and turned into a 6th round pick. Clark was a project, and so is Waller. Waller might be too stiff for cornerback, and he's too light to play linebacker right now. His best bet for early playing time is probably playing special teams, but redshirts don't usually get burned just for special teams time. I'm guessing he will spend his freshman year percolating on the sideline.
Prediction: Redshirt
Thunder: Thanks for the scouting report in miniature. If you'd care to expand a bit I'd be interested in your detailed thoughts on Waller.
ReplyDeleteI would say that there are probably two position groups (TE and CB) where the turnover and need and uncertainty of roles is more substantial than anywhere else on the roster.*
ReplyDeleteRecognizing that anyone in the 100s is a very long shot to make a meaningful contribution to the outcomes of the season and may not even get special teams duties barring a cascade of injuries, those are the two positions I see where you get get a surprise from like the 8th or 9th guy down on the list given the roster change. These are positions where some raw freshman and walk-on types who could get legitimately ranked in the 100s in the preseason but have a half decent shot IMO of emerging into a top 60-80ish role by December.
For TE - that's a try hard position, especially with double duty happening in covering FB duties. But Michigan just uses so dang many of them and will be hungry for blocking so I could see a walk-on (moreso than a freshman) pop, in the relative sense.
For CB it's the opposite - you need a baseline athleticism - but things are sooo open beyond Johnson/Sainristil that a guy like Waller could theoretically jump into the top 6 and thus be on the 2-deep and thus, maybe, if an injury hits maybe even end up in some semi-meaningful action.
Not likely, but I would put him over some walk-on WR or backup LB or 6th string RB just because the pecking order at those positions is a bit more settled, or seems to be.
*Technically the kicking units have more turnover but there's replacements lined up and plenty of them.
I'd put Waller higher is my point.
ReplyDelete