The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2023 THE WOLVERINE 49 P L AY E R BIOS BY ZACH LIBBY Youngstown (Ohio) Chaney cornerback D'Juan (DJ) Waller Jr. went through the recruiting process this past fall at a highly accelerated pace. After decommitting from Toledo in October, the three-star prospect quickly picked up offers from West Virginia, Ken- tucky and Michigan. He then took official visits to all three schools before ultimately announcing his commitment to the Wol- verines on Dec. 18, just three days before National Signing Day. "I feel good, and I feel excited to be a part of the maize and blue," Waller said. "It's a dream come true because I've watched Michigan a lot on TV. I'm blessed knowing that they're one of the top programs in the nation." Waller took his first visit to Ann Arbor for the Illinois game in mid-November with family and friends. "It was really crazy being there," Waller said of his initial trip to the Big House. "Even though it was cold, there were so many people in the stands yelling and screaming. I was even yelling and screaming, and I wasn't even committed at the time. That was just a great at- mosphere, and I'm happy to now be a part of that." The Wolverines stayed firm on their projection of Waller to play cornerback at the next level. Other schools viewed him potentially sliding to safety. But Waller's physical 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame fits the mold for co-defensive coordinator Steve Clink- scale's ideal cornerback. Family connections also played a big role in Waller choosing Michigan. Clink- scale, his area recruiter, is a native of Youngstown. Relationships between the two families go back to older generations. Waller also built a close bond with Jim Harbaugh during his two campus visits and on the head coach's in-home visit in December. "Coach Clink is from Youngstown, and we come from the same side of town," Waller said. "We have that same tie, so we can relate to a lot of things. "With Coach Harbaugh, that's just ic- ing on the cake, with him being my head coach. He understands me, understands my family and has a good bond with us." The Wolverines were the last program on Waller's original top three to bring him in for an official visit, which occurred the final weekend before National Sign- ing Day. He was joined in Ann Arbor that weekend by his Chaney teammate and fellow Michigan signee Jason Hewlett, as well as the two other Ohio native signees in cornerback Cameron Calhoun and edge Breeon Ishmail. "It's just the family feel up there and everyone coming together," Waller said of his decision to sign with U-M. "They're all passionate in what they do and are always helping you with anything that you're go- ing through. Seeing everyone there sup- port each other is really why." ❏ 2023 Projection Waller is a little bit of a tweener right now at cornerback with a large frame. A big area of focus for Waller this offseason will be his stiffness. He is certainly a desirable project for Steve Clinkscale, who will look to transform the Ohio native into a fluid coverage talent that complements his aggressiveness in the deep thirds and the flats. Waller, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound cornerback, was a first- team all-state selection on defense for Youngstown (Ohio) Chaney in 2022. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY STATISTICS Year Tackles TFL Sacks INT Rec. Yds. TD 2022 47 7 1 1 215 2 2021 29 4 3 1 322 5 HONORS • First-team Division III all-state as a senior. • Also a first-team all-district (Northeast Inland) pick as a senior. • A two-way player who also lined up at wide receiver and had a combined 537 yards receiving and 7 TD catches in his junior and senior seasons. • Helped the Cowboys compile a 10-2 record his senior year, including a playoff appear- ance, the school's first 10-win season in more than 20 years. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan on Dec. 18, 2022, after receiving offer on Nov. 11, 2022. • Picked U-M over offers from Kentucky and West Virginia. • Recruited by U-M co-defensive coordi- nator and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale. DID YOU KNOW? • Also lettered in basketball with the Cow- boys and helped the team win a district title as an all-conference performer in his junior season. • High school teammate of fellow U-M signee Jason Hewlett. • Son of D'Juan Waller Sr. • Born May 24, 2004. THEY SAID IT Darien Townsend, co-owner and trainer at CLUB7 Training: "As a player, DJ is a hard worker and very athletic. He's a player who needs to be given structure. He's excellent when following in instruc- tion and likes a sense of direction. He wants to focus on the minuscule things and be really disciplined in his art." D'JUAN (DJ) WALLER JR. DEFENSIVE BACK 6-3 • 195 CHANEY HIGH STRUTHERS, OHIO RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 681 62 22 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 98 28 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 68 21 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 78 34 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 27 20 consensus Rangy Ohio Cornerback DJ Waller Jr. Is Ready To Spread His Wings In Ann Arbor