The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1504445
AUGUST 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 11 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Josh Wallace Will Slide Into The Role By Clayton Sayfie Michigan targeted multiple cornerbacks in the transfer portal this offseason, before finally landing former UMass standout Josh Wallace in June. He's our pick to begin the season as a starter along with sophomore Will Johnson and graduate nickel back Mike Sainristil because he possesses something the other top contenders don't: experience. Wallace played 2,197 defensive snaps in 39 games over four seasons with the Minutemen. In contrast, junior Ja'Den Mc- Burrows (29), junior Myles Pollard (nine), sophomore Amo- rion Walker (six) and freshman Jyaire Hill have combined for just 44 career defensive snaps. Wallace hasn't just played, either, but he's performed well, albeit at a lower level of Division I. The former high school basketball star at Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic is long and has a knack for making plays on the ball. He totaled 3 interceptions and 28 pass breakups in four years, and the 6-foot, 190-pounder tied to lead this offseason's transfer cornerbacks in "ball-hawk rate" in 2022, per On3 analyst Clark Brooks. "Almost a quarter of his defended passes were altered in some way," Brooks revealed. Wallace's speed may hold him back from being one of the Big Ten's best, but he's capable of starting because of his length and physicality. Ja'Den McBurrows Will Start The Opener … Then What? By Chris Balas Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh moved sophomore Amorion Walker from receiver to cornerback and called him a potential "unicorn" in that he could excel at both positions. Right now, though, they want him to focus on corner, where Harbaugh said he believed he could impact right away. But Walker had his ups and downs in the spring, including a tough outing in the spring game. He still has a lot of work to do. Junior Ja'Den McBurrows, meanwhile, has quietly re- gained his confidence and the skills that made him a "fresh- man to watch" two years ago before a knee injury sidelined him. He's sticky in coverage, long and has good ball skills. It says here he'll earn the right to start against ECU. If he plays well, he'll be hard to replace. At the same time, we expect UMass transfer Josh Wallace to be right in the mix. He plays with an edge and has arrived with something to prove. We like freshman Jyaire Hill, too — a lot — and he'll be a force to be reckoned with. For now, though, McBurrows is the man to beat, with a lot still to be determined in fall camp. ❱ POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT ❰ WHO WILL START AT CORNERBACK ALONG WITH WILL JOHNSON TO BEGIN THE SEASON? Wallace, a transfer cornerback from UMass, notched 41 total stops, 3 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, 2 interceptions and 8 pass breakups last year. He will compete for a starting role at cornerback for U-M this season. PHOTO COURTESY UMASS ATHLETICS