Josh Wallace Has Committed to Michigan
Don Brown no longer works at Michigan but is still giving us a hand, or more specifically, his best cornerback. UMass transfer CB Josh Wallace announced this morning that he's committing to Michigan.
Committed #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/JIU7o8Sor2
— Josh Wallace🏝 (@Joshwallace_12) June 7, 2023
The grad transfer is on his (last) COVID season of eligibility. He has decent size but up-and-down grades on PFF over four seasons of starting at Amherst, the first three of those in the milquetoast Quarters/Cov2 system of Charlie Strong acolyte Tommy Restivo before Brown installed a more aggressive Cover 1 scheme. He was also a two-time captain. Wallace's other main consideration was a guarantee to play immediately at Virginia Tech; the other serious offers were from Oklahoma and Iowa.
In my limited scouting Wallace looks like a functional player but not a star, more long than tall, and excellent at press coverage versus UMass-caliber competition. Speed looks average for the Big Ten. His experience shows in run support; he's not a great individual tackler but a very sound team defender, responsible and strong enough to press an edge closed against the receivers he's played against. Those include Pitt's Jordan Addison in 2021, but UMass's coverages were so soft pre-Brown I couldn't take much away from that film. Alex Drain will have a more complete writeup later on today.
Projection:
Since Will Johnson had knee surgery after spring ball and "might" return in time for the opener, Wallace has a shot to start the season #1 on the depth chart. Amorion Walker was #2 in spring but is transitioning from wide receiver, and got the worst of a spring game battle with walk-on Peyton O'Leary. Ja'den McBurrows looked like their best non-Johnson CB in spring but has dealt with injuries his first two years on campus and hasn't been on the field. Touted Jyaire Hill is a true freshman. His classmate Cameron Calhoun and Johnson classmate Myles Pollard have thus far been behind veteran walk-on Keshaun Harris, if not 6th year special teamer German Green as well. Mike Sainristil is much more valuable to them at nickel, and his RS freshman understudy Kody Jones is supposed to be getting reps there to prepare for life after Sainristil.
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Welcome to Ann Arbor, young man. He is going to get better coaching than at UMass.
Not sure if "Amhurst" was intentional, and if the answer is yes, then ????
No, these announcements get typed up quickly. I fixed.
Mo Hurst, but Amherst.
My apologies for being that guy.
Apologize?!?? Take my upvote, I'd give you 2 if I could.
A veteran player that fills the need.
The fact that you can say "the" need instead of "a" need and it be accurate is a beautiful thing.
It at least gives you a functional floor. I certainly don’t expect an all-conference type season out of the guy. Maybe “average B1G corner” is a realistic expectation.
If nothing else, gives you veteran presence and leadership in the locker room if McBurrows or Walker beat him out.
Huge get to set a solid floor at the only position in question!!
We can have nice things!
Blanket coverage in Amherst sounds like a pox on both houses.
Two of Michigan's captains from 2022 transfer out. Michigan gets 4 former captains from the transfer portal. Strange times.
Now 5! Drake Nugent, LaDarius Henderson, AJ Barner, Jack Tuttle and Josh Wallace.
Amorion Walker was #2 in spring but is transitioning from wide receiver, and got the worst of a spring game battle with walk-on Peyton O'Leary. Ja'den McBurrows looked like their best non-Johnson CB in spring but has dealt with injuries his first two years on campus and hasn't been on the field. Touted Jyaire Hill is a true freshman. His classmate Cameron Calhoun and Johnson classmate Myles Pollard have thus far been behind veteran walk-on Keshaun Harris, if not 6th year special teamer German Green as well.
Yyyyyyyyyyyikes.
avatar checks out
Clinkscale's going to earn his pay this year.
A safety room that is quite elite and a cupboard full of terrific, though young, talent. Clink is not perseverating over his chances of goodness here.
I don’t think we have to be that concerned. A strong DL with players who can get to the QB can cover up some deficiencies at CB.
How well does he defend mesh routes?
The film against Tulane was mess but Wallace gave up a wide open crossing route in that one:
It's possible that LB was supposed to step down on the route on a cut like McGrone here:
I did a whole Neck Sharpies on it.
The secondary held up better than expected last year, so I expect they’ll do at least as well this year. Thanks, Coach Brown, for remembering your former compatriots.
Thank you Don Brown!
Welcome to Michigan, Mr. Josh Wallace!
Also, hi everyone! I haven't been super active on the blog the past few months during the offseason, but it's only June and I'm already feeling the itch..
No, not mosquito bites.
Welcome!
Let's hope that the Ghost is as accurate re I'Marion Stewart and Boo Carter as he was on this one.
Welcome Josh Wallace, go make that CB room better.
Sounds like he can contend for CB2 once Johnson gets back up to speed. That's pretty much what we need, so this is a great get. Here's hoping this pickup improves the only expected deficiency on D.
While I'm not "comforted" by our situation at CB, I will say I think some faith in Clinkscale may be required here. Not only is he a good recruiter but he has done well developing talent in his previous roles and the secondary seemed to take a solid step forward when he arrived in Ann Arbor. That doesn't mean they'll be amazing week one, but I have a lot of confidence in Clink's ability to mold some clay here. The easy early schedule should help as well. Let's see what we have come week 6 or so and worry from there as needed
Excited he's signed. I would be pretty surprised if he won out the #1 corner spot, but a depth guy with a decent floor never hurts.
That's a great photo. Something about it makes it look like it was taken in the 1960s.
Welcome Josh; looking forward to watching you play this year.
Football seems to be getting everything they want lately. Win the big ten again and maybe more and the recruiting could elevate to an all time best?
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