Bio Blast: Cornerback DJ Waller Jr

Throughout transfer portal windows, names emerge quickly as targets, sometimes from out of nowhere. A few players who are contacted initially are off the board as quickly as their name is written down, while others create an eye-opening response. The latter applies to DJ Waller Jr.

Kentucky is in the market for a starting-caliber cornerback and Waller fits the bill. The former Michigan Wolverine entered the transfer portal on Wednesday with three years of eligibility remaining and Kentucky quickly emerged as his top potential destination. Let’s take a closer look at what he could bring to the Big Blue Nation.

Kentucky Lost the Initial Recruiting Battle

Michigan has only lost three football games since the shortened COVID season, culminating with a National Championship in 2023. The program’s rise to the top of the sport under Jim Harbaugh was not directly reflected on the recruiting trail. The logo carried more weight, but Kentucky still went toe-to-toe and won its fair share of battles for prospects in Ohio and Michigan.

Once friends and colleagues, Youngstown natives Steve Clinkscale and Vince Marrow were pitted against one another on the trail. Coach Clink picked up quite a few wins early on until the Big Dog started flexing his muscles.

DJ Waller Jr. was one of the final recruiting battles between the two that favored Clinkscale. A three-star prospect, Marrow was in Youngstown recruiting Waller up until the very end. Ultimately, Waller committed to the Wolverines on Dec. 18, 2022, just three days before the start of the Early Signing Period.

Waller was a Standout in Michigan Spring Practice

Even though his recruiting ranking did not indicate that he would be an early contributor, Waller played quite a bit for the National Champs as a true freshman. He did not wear a redshirt, appearing in 11 games. Typically that means he carried a lot of weight in special teams, but Waller did so much more than run down the field on kickoffs.

Waller rotated in regularly at cornerback, tallying 12 tackles and a pass break-up in 2022. His best game was against Michigan State, batting down a pass and recording three take-downs against an in-state rival. He earned Michigan Freshman Defensive Player of the Week honors five times.

Expectations were high for Waller entering spring practice. The Wolverines needed a new CB2 to line up alongside All-American Will Johnson. The spot was between Waller and another classmate, former four-star talent Jyaire Hill.

Depending on who you ask, Waller was poised to win that battle and start at cornerback this fall for the Wolverines. New head coach Sherrone Moore was impressed with the steps Waller took in spring practice.

“DJ Waller played a little bit last year, but he’s been awesome,” Moore said. “He’s been super impressive — super long, super athletic. I think he’s going to be a phenomenal player.”

He backed up that praise in the spring game, particularly while providing run support. A run bounced wide on fourth and two. Waller was ready for it, stepping up to make the tackle and force a turnover on downs.

Waller has Ideal Kentucky Cornerback Traits

Over the years we’ve learned that Mark Stoops has a type at cornerback. He loves long, lengthy defenders that can eat up space in Kentucky’s zone defense.

Standing at 6-foot-3, Waller has the frame and athleticism to play cornerback in the SEC. As we saw in the Michigan spring game, he is willing to provide run support. Physicality at the point of contact might be his best attribute.

A two-sport star in football and basketball, he also played wide receiver and was a return man at Chaney High School, propelling the Cowboys to a 10-2 record during his senior campaign. That year he recorded 47 tackles, 7.0 for loss, a sack, and an interception. He returned on kickoff for a touchdown and picked up 215 receiving yards and two more scores.

Waller lined up at safety in high school and was quickly transitioned to cornerback at Michigan. That experience at safety is a big reason why he’s such a willing tackler, never hesitating to lower his shoulder and deliver a powerful impact. He picked up the cornerback position quickly in Ann Arbor. There will be a learning curve if he ends up at Kentucky, but his experience reading and reacting as a safety should be a plus when playing in the Wildcats’ zone-heavy scheme.