The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1513253
JANUARY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 29 BY JOHN BORTON J osh Wallace experienced plenty in four seasons of football at the University of Massachusetts, three of them as a team captain. Still, performing in the Michigan- Ohio State game, securing a Big Ten championship and becoming part of the first college football program in history to win 1,000 games all lingered well be- yond his imagination. Until Michigan came along, that is. "It's amazing!" Wallace exclaimed. "They ended up calling me while I was in the [transfer] portal. They kept it real with me. I had to come in and compete for a job. Everything they said has come true: be able to compete for 1,000 wins, have the opportunity to beat Ohio State, have the opportunity to play in the Big Ten championship. It all came true." It's not over for the grad transfer cor- nerback or his new team. Now it's on to the Rose Bowl, and a College Football Playoff semifinal showdown with Ala- bama. If you're going to get one season as a transfer, you might as well do it right. That's precisely what Wallace sought, after his four seasons at UMass were up. He wanted a unique, fulfilling experience. Michigan needed a cornerback. But not just any cornerback, and not just any type of player. "They have to fit, right?" noted U-M assistant coach Kirk Campbell. "It's like dating. They've got to like you, you've got to like them. "You're not taking somebody just be- cause they're a good player. If they don't have the intangibles you're looking for — leadership qualities, how they carry themselves, the background, the familiar- ity with what we're trying to achieve here — it's not going to make it." Wallace checked the boxes, and Michi- gan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter couldn't be happier. The Eastern import started nine games and appeared in all 13 through the Big Ten title game. He be- came an honorable mention All-Big Ten performer, posted 26 tackles, including 2 for loss, broke up 4 passes, forced a fum- ble and secured an unusual and incredibly timely fumble recovery in the Big Ten title game. "He was a godsend," Minter assured. "He was at a position where we really had LIVING THE DREAM For Josh Wallace, Michigan Stands As Advertised Wallace, a grad transfer from UMass, started nine games at cornerback while playing in all 13. He matched his career high at Michigan with 4 tackles against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game and also earned honor- able mention All-Big Ten honors. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER