Michigan adds to defense with UMass transfer CB Josh Wallace
The competition for Michigan football’s second starting cornerback spot just got that much tighter.
Josh Wallace, a former cornerback and fouryear starter at UMass, announced his decision to transfer to Ann Arbor for his final collegiate season on Wednesday morning.
The 6-foot, 190-pound corner also had offers from Michigan State, Iowa, Oklahoma, Penn State and Virginia Tech, among others.
Still, it’s not a surprise he chose Michigan given the ties to Ann Arbor at his former school — UMass head coach Don Brown was the defensive coordinator at Michigan for five seasons (2016-20) under Jim Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Steve Casula was an analyst during his time at Michigan and outside linebackers coach Mike McCray played at Michigan (2014-17) under both Brady Hoke and Harbaugh.
“Committed #GoBlue,” Wallace’s post read on Instagram.
An Olney, Maryland, native, Wallace was a two-sport star at DeMatha Catholic, where he was teammates with former U-M center Olusegun Oluwatimi.
He then went on to become a multi-year captain at UMass — the fifth former captain brought to U-M via the portal since December — and recorded 137 tackles, including seven for loss, three interceptions and 24 passes defended across his career.
During his senior year in 2022, he tallied 41 tackles, three for loss, two interceptions, eight pass breakups and a fumble recovery; he brings experience to a cornerback room that graduated two corners with starting experience, second-round draft pick DJ Turner and Gemon Green.
Will Johnson, who’s recovering from arthroscopic
knee surger this offseason, is U-M’s unquestioned No. 1 CB but No. 2 has been up for grabs all offseason.
Last week in Detroit, Harbaugh confirmed that, at that moment, Amorion Walker had a leg up on the starting spot.
“I predict it,” Harbaugh said of Walker as the starting cornerback. “Been right before, been wrong before. We’ll see. I think he’s right on track. I’m pleased with how he’s playing.”
Meanwhile, Mike Sainristil, who opted to return for a fifth season at U-M — his second on defense — is the likely candidate to start at nickel back, but he too has reportedly received reps on the outside.
“Truth be told, the other (corner) spot, that’s the big question mark right now,” said defensive coordinator Jesse Minter when he last spoke with media earlier this spring. “We had a lot of guys battle for that spot throughout spring . ... I’m excited to see that battle continue. I wouldn’t say that there’s anybody written in stone right now. And it’ll our job as coaches to put the best combination of five players on the field when we have five DBs on the field.”