Michigan CB Josh Wallace talks 'brother' Mike Sainristil, strengths of his game, higher level of competition

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football brought in graduate Josh Wallace from the transfer portal, an experienced cornerback out of UMass, and he’s impressed since joining the team in June. A wagyu steak dinner at the Downtown Chop House with coaches and a group of Michigan’s defensive backs on his official visit cemented Wallace’s decision, and he chose U-M over Virginia Tech and Oklahoma.

He’s gotten up to speed quickly, and head coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned him as one of the top players competing for the Wolverines’ starting job on the opposite side of the field to sophomore Will Johnson. Graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil has made it a point to welcome Wallace. The two have connected early and were roommates in the hotel at the beginning of fall camp, with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter calling the two “twin brothers.”

“Since I’ve been here, we’ve just been going over the plays together and getting caught up. He’s really like my brother,” Wallace said.

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Harbaugh said that Michigan is at its best when Sainristil, who can also play outside cornerback, is at nickel back. The Wolverines are looking for someone to emerge as the starter on the outside, and Wallace appears to be the leader to do so through two weeks of camp.

“It’s still [too] early to tell [who will start],” Wallace said. “We’re all competing, and we’ll see by the time game time comes.”

The dynamic between Wallace and Sainristil on the field has been “great,” the 6-0, 190-pound Bowdie, Md., native said, just like it’s been off it, with the two enjoying playing basketball on the half court above U-M’s weight room. ()Wallace, a former high school basketball standout, says he wins in one-on-one games, by the way.)

“I would just say that the communication part is much better when us two are out there,” Wallace said.

Under UMass head coach Don Brown, Michigan’s former defensive coordinator from 2016-20, Wallace was primarily in press man-to-man coverage with the Minutemen. He’ll play more zone in Ann Arbor and had to pick up a new play book, but he said the process has been smooth and “not really that challenging.”

“My strengths probably would be press man. That’s what we did over at UMass,” Wallace explained, asked about his strengths and hoops background. “And the basketball side of it helps a lot, because in basketball you gotta stop them from going to the basket, so it’s all about angles. That will help out.”

As will working under Michigan co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Steve Clinkscale. Learning from Clinkscale, who’s developed numerous NFL defensive backs, was appealing to Wallace in his decision-making process.

“Oh, it’s great,” Wallace said with a laugh, discussing his demanding position coach. “He’s gonna be on you every single play, really. You can be lined up wrong, he’s going to be yelling at you from the sidelines. It’s a lot of fun, and I’m learning a lot. That’s really what I came here for.”

The play book has been easy to pick up, and he’s meshed well with the Michigan team. But the step up in level of competition is significant, going from UMass, an independent that mostly plays Group of Five schools, to the Big Ten.

“At the end of the day, I just feel like it’s football,” Wallace said. “It shouldn’t matter if someone’s at a bigger school or not, because there are people who are in the NFL who were undrafted who come from smaller schools — DI, DII — so I feel like it doesn’t really matter.

“Most definitely different in practice, but it’s still football. You just gotta go in, put your head down and be ready to work.”

Wallace said the toughest road environments he played in have been at Texas A&M, Florida State and Army. Michigan will play at Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan State and and Penn State this season, all expected to be loud atmospheres. He has some home games between now and then to get up to speed, too, but it seems he’s well on his way.