Trevin Wallace Selected in the 3rd Round of the NFL Draft by the Panthers

Another Kentucky Wildcat is ready to shine on Sundays. Linebacker Trevin Wallace has been selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the NFL Draft with pick No. 72.

It’s the second time in four years that a former Kentucky linebacker has been selected in the NFL Draft. Another South Georgia product, Jamin Davis, was taken with the No. 19 overall pick by the Washington Commanders in 2021.

Wallace is the second Wildcat taken, going two picks after DB Andru Phillips, who was drafted by the New York Giants with pick No. 70.

It was a recruiting coup when the Wildcats unexpectedly landed Wallace. He was well on his way to playing at Auburn until the Tigers fired head coach Gus Malzahn just a few days before the Early Signing Period. Jon Sumrall was given the perfect opportunity to strike. The former Kentucky linebacker coach’s lengthy relationship quickly won Wallace over, helping the Cats land a player who was ranked as high as the No. 36 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class.

Like Phillips, Wallace was an outstanding track athlete in high school. The explosive athlete did a little bit of everything in high school, carrying a heavy load at running back while rushing passers on defense, but he was not a refined linebacker. That was going to take time to develop at Kentucky.

Wallace wasted no time making an impact on the field. In his fifth game in a Kentucky uniform, he created one of the loudest crowd pops in the history of Kroger Field. Josh Paschal blocked a Florida field goal attempt, which Wallace returned to the end zone for a touchdown, tilting the momentum for the Cats to upset the tenth-ranked Gators.

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That was not the only big play Wallace made against Florida. His third career interception set up a Kentucky touchdown last fall at Kroger Field.

He started in 19 games through this three-year career, including all 12 in which he played last fall. At one point early in the 2023 season he led the SEC in sacks. He finished his career with 166 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks, five quarterback hurries, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup.

The outstanding athlete turned heads at the NFL Combine by posting a 4.51 40-yard dash. He has all of the tools to succeed on Sundays but still needs to refine them to consistently contribute for years to come.