Josh Wallace has quietly been one of the best transfer portal additions to a Michigan team that welcomed seven heavy contributors to the 2023 roster.
Wallace was brought it late to address the need at cornerback opposite Will Johnson and has played well enough to keep his spot on an undefeated team. There has been negativity directed towards Wallace at times, but he has responded well and has been exactly the solid cornerback that Michigan needed to guard the boundary.
“Got to ignore the criticism,” Wallace noted. “Can’t really get too caught up in it, just listen to what the coaches tell us and get better every week.”
Wallace, and the rest of the defense, are excited for the challenge that awaits them on Monday. Some would be afraid of an offense that averages 350 passing yards a game, but Michigan sees it as a chance to cement themselves as the nation’s top defense.
“It’s a great challenge for the defense,” Wallace said. “They have an elite quarterback, elite wide receivers, and it’s another opportunity for our defense to show why we’re the number one defense in the country.”
Though Wallace credited the Washington offense, he also mentioned that going against McCarthy in practice every day has helped him prepare.
“In my eyes, J.J. is the quarterback is the best quarterback in the country,” Wallace bragged. “Going against him every day is always a blessing and he helps us every single day to get better.”
Wallace added that even though McCarthy is underrated by much of the national media, the signal caller is focused on the team’s one goal of winning a national championship.
“He’s focused on the natty, just like all of us. I’m just glad that he’s my teammate, you know, at the end of the day.”
Wallace, McCarthy, and the rest of Michigan’s team will take on the Washington Huskies in the national title game on Monday.