Josh Wallace
Height 5’ 11’’
Weight 185 lbs
By Lance Zierlein: https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josh-wallace/32005741-4c46-3437-5d1d-34c8f1403e41
Overview
Draftable prospect with slightly undersized frame as a wide cornerback. Wallace was a three-time captain at UMass before transferring to Michigan. He’s a natural leader with a history of searching out challenges and putting in the work to succeed. He plays with adequate athleticism in man but lacks the size and length to control bigger NFL targets. Wallace is a natural route-reader, which creates opportunities for early jumps and pass breakups but an average closing burst limits his takeaway total. He’s smart, can play in a variety of cover schemes and was a good tackle-finisher at Michigan. Wallace does his job and has the intangibles to compete for a backup spot but needs to put a decent 40-yard dash time on the board.
Strengths
Three-time team captain at UMass before transferring.
Smart football player with good situational awareness.
Clean footwork with ability to retrace steps in pedal and drive.
Extensive game experience has bolstered route recognition.
Good field balance and route pass-offs as zone defender.
Supports run with proper positioning and effort to tackle.
Weaknesses
Low career interception total (3) relative to on-ball production (29 breakups).
Content to knock it away instead of trying to take it away at times.
Plays with slight drift when changing direction on the move.
Scouts are concerned about his long speed.
Comes in a little hot as a downhill tackler.
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from https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Josh-Wallace-CB-UMass#google_vignette
Scouting Report: Strengths
Can get up under a receiver’s chin and has the speed to flip his hips and run downfield. Wallace has the quick and surprisingly powerful hands to jostle receivers early. But he’s at his best peeking into the backfield.
Aware zone cornerback who is also adept in man coverage, flashing physical hand punch at the line and straight-line speed to stay with receivers downfield.
Alert defender for zone coverage, showing good understanding of route progressions occurring behind him and a quick burst downhill to break on underneath passes in front of him.
Top-end speed is good and is capable of turning and running in press coverage. He also shows good instincts when sitting back in zone and looking into the backfield.
Stays low in his backpedal and shows the click-and-close ability to break up plays in front of him. Wallace can move well laterally and shows excellent instincts when looking into the backfield in zone coverage.
He’s also very good in zone coverage, showing a great understanding of routes and the ability to close quickly.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
Right now he’s only capable of playing in trail position, and even then he’d likely be draw a lot of flags.
Fails to maintain inside technique in man coverage. Not a press corner.
Like a lot of collegiate corners, Wallace has a tendency to get grabby, something that will have to be coached out of him.