ITF EXTRA: UMass transfer CB Josh Wallace on way for Michigan visit

Michigan Wolverines football is looking for a cornerback in the transfer portal in former UMass standout Josh Wallace. Here’s what we’ve picked up on the recruitment today, with three schools who are pulling away for his services.

Wallace visited Oklahoma over the past two days and is on his way to Ann Arbor for his Michigan visit as we speak. He’ll be in Ann Arbor through Friday, before heading to Virginia Tech this weekend.

• Wolverine TV podcast: UMass transfer Josh Wallace, what Michigan has to do in first half of season, more

Those three schools, we’re told by a source close to him, are the only ones vying for his commitment, and he’s hoping to make a decision soon after the weekend wraps up. That means the Hokies will get the final in-person pitch — and they’ve already expressed that he has a great chance to earn significant playing time right away — but he’s very high on Michigan as well.

The source also has Michigan ties and believes he’s the caliber of player to be able to make an impact for the Wolverines. Wallace knows, though, that he’ll have to earn his opportunity at Michigan.

Wallace played four seasons with the Minutemen and has one year of eligibility remaining. Since entering the portal last Thursday, Wallace has also received offers from Penn State, Indiana, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Oregon State and others.

The 6-0, 190-pounder has some ins with Michigan, since there are many connections on the UMass staff. For starters, 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.

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. Dickinson is a two-time All-Big Ten honoree who transferred to Kansas this offseason.

A two-time team captain at UMass, Wallace totaled 140 tackles, 7 stops for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 28 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble in four seasons and 39 games. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Wallace took 2,197 defensive snaps in his career in Amherst.

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 target 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.

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