Name: Josh Wallace
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha
Position: Cornerback
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #12
Last year: Wallace played at UMass. He made 41 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and 1 fumble recovery.
TTB Rating: N/A
Wallace is a three-time team captain at UMass. Last year he started every game and made 2 interceptions, along with 41 tackles and 10 total pass breakups. A lightly regarded prospect - as most UMass signees are - coming out of high school in 2019, Wallace developed into a starter early in his career. Even though he played all four previous seasons, he had a chance to use his COVID exemption to spend a fifth year either creating more college football memories or making a claim to get a shot in the NFL. Michigan needed cornerback help after losing D.J. Turner II and Gemon Green, so it was a good fit.
My guess is that Wallace will end up starting opposite Will Johnson at cornerback. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter called him a "pro" but I got the sense that he meant that more as a compliment to his work ethic and preparation than his physical skills, which are moderate. He has okay size at 6'0" and 190 pounds, but he's not very swift or quick, which I think is going to be his downfall when trying to succeed in the NFL. I think his toughness and attitude will make him a solid enough player in 2023 to hold off the likes of Amorion Walker and Ja'Den McBurrows for the most part, but they should all get a chance to play. Even if Walker and McBurrows have opportunities, I think it will be helpful to have Wallace as a steady veteran to play or fill in if some of the inexperience shows up.
Prediction: Starting cornerback; 30 tackles, 1 interception
Agree here. How would you compare him to Gemon, or, is there a recent CB you would compete him to?
ReplyDeleteI had Wallace higher because I don't think Walker, McBurrows, or Hill are ready. The camp buzz does not seem to make it sound like there is any real competition going on here which only emphasizes the value that Wallace brings.
ReplyDeleteWallace (and whoever else plays the corner opposite Will Johnson) is going to be tested by opposing OCs. With how loaded OSU's WR corps are and how much we rotate 3 CBs (outside, not including nickel) the question is not only if Wallace can hold up but who is going to rotate in behind him and Johnson. We need another dude. Based on the spring game when he was getting toasted by a walk-on -- Walker ain't it.
Michigan can play zone and it can rotate safety help but that (like saying they can blitz if the DL isn't getting organic pressure) comes at a cost. Michigan needs it's CBs to be able to play on an island regularly.
Wallace is not an all american and probably not even an NFL player, but he's critical anyway because CB recruiting beyond Will Johnson has been a tire fire the last couple years. Look at the troubles we had last year even with a couple elite NFL-caliber talents in Turner and Johnson, plus a talented vet in Green.
Wallace was a MASSIVE recruiting get for us and massively important to this team's outcomes. While I agree he raises the floor at CB, I also think that for 2023 he raises the ceiling substantially.