2023 Season Countdown: #16b Josh Wallace
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
