Michigan football lands former UMass cornerback Josh Wallace out of transfer portal
Michigan Wolverines football has added to its cornerback room, with former UMass standout Josh Wallace, a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining, announcing his commitment.
Wallace, who entered the transfer portal May 25, chose Michigan over primary contenders Oklahoma and Virginia Tech. He visited all three schools over the last week. Wallace also received offers from Penn State, Indiana, Michigan State, Oregon State and Iowa.
A three-time team captain at UMass, Wallace is ranked as the No. 54 cornerback to transfer this offseason, per On3. Before he made his pledge, he was the top uncommitted player at his position and No. 12 overall.
Wallace brings some much-needed experience to a Michigan cornerback group that doesn’t have a lot. Sophomore Will Johnson was a freshman All-American last season and is the most experienced of the group, with 14 games and 689 defensive snaps under his belt. The others contending for a starting spot, however, have played a combined 44 defensive snaps (graduate Mike Sainristil is expected to remain at nickel back).
Wallace played 2,197 defensive snaps in 39 games over four seasons with UMass. He totaled 140 tackles, 7 stops for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 24 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble.
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The 6-0, 190-pounder has some natural connections with Michigan. UMass head coach Don Brown was the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator from 2016-20. Former U-M analyst Steve Casula is the team’s offensive coordinator, and outside linebackers coach Mike McCray is a former Wolverine captain. Additionally, UMass wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Ryan Partridge is the cousin of Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge, who’s now his primary recruiter.
Wallace also played high school football and basketball at Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic alongside former Michigan offensive lineman Olusegun Oluwatimi and former Michigan hoops center Hunter Dickinson, respectively.
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Wallace is coming off an impressive 2022 season for UMass, which disappointed as a team with a 1-11 record. He ranked sixth on the squad with 41 tackles, adding 3 for loss, 2 interceptions and 8 pass breakups.
Per PFF, he allowed 22 receptions for 381 yards and 2 touchdowns on 40 targets. His 71.2 PFF coverage grade ranked 117th among all cornerbacks nationally.
The Michigan commit was named second-team All-Independent by Pro Football Network in both 2022 and 2020.
The Bowie, Md., native racked up 53 tackles, 4 for loss and 1 sack as a junior in 2021, besting the team with 12 pass breakups. He had 13 tackles and a team-high 5 pass breakups in 2020, and posted 33 tackles and 1 pick in 2019.
