Tag: Trevin Wallace

Panthers 3rd-round pick Trevin Wallace has a scary definition for ‘dawg mentality’

Trevin Wallace on dawg mentality: “I’ma hurt you every play. I want you to be scared of me.”

“Dawg mentality” has probably been the most popular buzz term for the Carolina Panthers this offseason. So, what it does mean to their latest draft pick?

President of football operations/general manager/dawg hunter Dan Morgan wrapped up a busy Day 2 by selecting University of Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace at the draft’s 72nd overall spot. And if you’re not familiar with his game, he provided quite a rundown when speaking to reporters after the big announcement.

“I got a little swag to my game,” Wallace said. “I feel like with my game, like I said ‘swag,’ I’m determined to get to the ball carrier. Like, no matter what it is. If the play go on for like 12 seconds, I’m still determined to get the ball carrier. So I’m real determined as well, too.”

That description showed in Wallace’s play, particularly during his final season for the Wildcats. The athletic 6-foot-1, 237-pounder totaled 80 tackles (8.5 for a loss) with 5.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

Wallace, clearly a dawg, was then asked what dawg mentality means to him.

“So dawg mentality to me, it might sound crazy, dawg mentality to me is you don’t care if you go out there and hurt somebody. It’s part of the game. You go in there and hurt somebody, you be like, ‘I did this and I’ma do it again.’ That’s what dawg mentality is. You don’t go in there being soft. You go in there like, ‘I’ma hurt you every play. I want you to be scared of me.'”

Geez.

Well, at least we know he’s got some bite.

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Panthers GM Dan Morgan asked if Trevin Wallace is Shaq Thompson’s successor

Was the Panthers’ selection of LB Trevin Wallace a succession plan for 30-year-old Shaq Thompson?

Carolina Panthers president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan may know a thing or two about being a linebacker—seeing as though he was one. So Friday’s selection of Trevin Wallace will surely be one to keep an eye on.

Morgan and head coach Dave Canales spoke to reporters following their second day of action in the 2024 NFL draft. He was asked if the choice of Wallace, a promising youngster at the linebacker position, is the start of a succession plan to veteran Shaq Thompson.

“I don’t know if it’s like Shaq’s successor,” Morgan replied. “Shaq’s played at a high level for a long time. Obviously, we think a lot of Shaq, we think a lot of Josey [Jewell]. We’re really excited about those guys.”

Thompson, who turned 30 years old last week, will be entering his 10th NFL campaign in 2024. He’ll also be entering the final year of his contract, which could mean the end of his long tenure in Carolina.

If that’s ultimately the case, the Panthers may have a potential replacement with the 72nd overall pick in Wallace. But for now, Morgan is hoping the 21-year-old just finds his place as a pro.

“I just want Trevin to come in here—and I think Dave would say the same thing—come in here, learn, compete, earn the respect of these veterans out there. I think that’s the main thing just coming in as a rookie—just growing, getting behind the right veteran leadership, just kinda find his way.”

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Linebacker Trevin Wallace has been drafted by the Carolina Panthers

Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace was drafted by the Carolina Panthers.

Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace was expected to be drafted sometime on day two of the 2024 NFL draft, and that’s exactly what happened. Wallace was selected with the 72nd overall pick by the Carolina Panthers.

In 2023, Wallace had 80 tackles with 8.5 for a loss. He had 5.5 sacks as well, and recorded an interception. It was a breakout year for the third year linebacker.

The big draw for Wallace is his athleticism. On tape, it was easy to see his ability to pursue sideline to sideline. He flies all over the field to find, and make, tackles. He also projects as a good blitzer in the NFL.

At the NFL Combine, Wallace ran really well, as expected, posting a 4.51 40 time. He also had a 37.5 vertical jump and a 10’7″ broad jump.

Wallace may need some time to develop before he’s ready to start in Carolina, but his ceiling is very high. If he hits it, he could be one of the steals of the draft.

Panthers select LB Trevin Wallace with 2024 draft’s 72nd overall pick

The Panthers have selected Kentucky LB Trevin Wallace with the 72nd pick of the 2024 draft.

The Carolina Panthers’ journey to the 72nd overall pick wasn’t a straightforward one, with general manager Dan Morgan and company swinging a total of three deals on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft. But by the time that slot came around, the team stayed put and got themselves a new defender.

With their first and only (at least for now) selection of the third round, the Panthers grabbed University of Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace. Carolina landed into the spot following a deal with the New York Jets—who sent over Picks No. 72 and No. 157 in exchange for No. 65.

Wallace is an athletic ‘backer at 6-foot-1 and 237 pounds. He clocked a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 scouting combine—the fourth-fastest amongst all prospects at his position.

He spent three seasons in Lexington—where he amassed 166 total tackles (18.0 for a loss), 10.0 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

The Jesup, Ga. native now joins first-rounder Xavier Legette and second-rounder Jonathon Brooks atop the team’s draft class.

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Packers mock draft 6.0: Final predictions for 2024 draft

Final mock draft predictions for the Packers entering the 2024 NFL draft in this seven-rounder.

We made it! The 2024 NFL Draft has arrived. The Green Bay Packers will start the three-day affair with 11 picks at their disposal. It’s time for my final mock draft of the cycle. In my final mock draft last year, I “correctly” mocked Lukas Van Ness, Jayden Reed and Anders Carlson to the Packers. We won’t talk about the rest of the mock picks.

Let’s take a look at who the Packers landed in my final mock draft of the cycle.

1.25: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

Surprise, surprise. DeJean would give Green Bay’s secondary a much-needed playmaker and he’d bring juice to the special teams unit. DeJean is an outstanding athlete. He has natural ball skills. He’s versatile and he’s an asset in run support.

2.41: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

The Alabama product is everything you want in a cornerback. He’s long, plays under control and never gives up the big play. According to Pro Football Focus, McKinstry only gave up two receptions of 30-plus yards over the past two seasons.

2.58: Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas

Puni offers five-position versatility. During his two seasons at Kansas, Puni started 13 games at left guard and 12 games at left tackle. During those two seasons, he gave up zero sacks and 16 pressures.

3. 88: Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky

A former track athlete, Wallace is an outstanding athlete with sideline-to-sideline range. He’s light on his feet and has the movement skills to hold up in coverage. At only 21 years old, Wallace has all the tools to develop into a four-down force.

3. 91: Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky

The Temple and Vanderbilt transfer finished his lone season as a Wildcat with 1,129 yards and 14 touchdowns. He runs with good patience and has the contact balance to bounce off defenders. Davis is a well-rounded running back, who could be the long-term running mate for Josh Jacobs.

4. 126: Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington

Even after adding Wallace, the Packers still need bodies in the linebacker room. The Washington linebacker logged 431 snaps on special teams during his time as a Husky and could be a Day 1 contributor for Rich Bisaccia. He’s a good athlete with the competitive makeup to challenge for snaps on defense.

5. 169: Frank Crum, OT, Wyoming

Crum has experience playing both tackle positions. He finished his career at Wyoming with 36 starts at right tackle and 13 at left tackle. The former two-star recruit is a good-sized athlete with the lateral mobility to shut down the corner and the mobility to get out in space to move people in the ground game.

6. 202: AJ Barner, TE, Michigan

Barner could the ideal No. 3 tight end behind Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. The Indiana transfer gets after it as a blocker and he’s a good athlete with upside as a pass catcher. Barner has 555 snaps on special teams to his name and could be a hired gun.

6. 219: Tyler Owens, S, Texas Tech

Roll the dice on the Texas Tech defensive back’s athletic profile. The Texas transfer may never develop into an impact player on defense, but give his athletic profile and experience on special teams (546 snaps and 10 tackles) Owens could carve out a long career as a core special teamer.

7. 245: Matt Lee, C, Miami

A UCF transfer, Lee finished his collegiate career with 48 career starts at center under his belt. Lee started 12 games during his lone season at Miami and gave up zero sacks and four pressures.

7. 255: Miles Battle, CB, Utah

Battle started his career at Ole Miss and made the transition from wide receiver to cornerback during the 2020 season. Battle started two games during his lone season at Utah and recorded one interception and four pass deflections. Battle is an outstanding athlete with good size (6-3 and 196 pounds). With his athleticism, Battle is worth the gamble and could make an immediate impact on special teams. The Ole Miss transfer logged 454 snaps on special teams and recorded nine tackles.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 11, Kentucky LB Trevin Wallace

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft

The Green Bay Packers failed to add a veteran linebacker to pair with Quay Walker in free agency and it’s imperative that they add a linebacker early in the 2024 NFL Draft. With it being a weak linebacker class, Brian Gutekunst will have to strike early in hopes of landing a potential difference-maker. 

A linebacker that Gutekunst could target in the upcoming draft is Trevin Wallace. The Kentucky product checks in at No. 11 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. 

A four-star recruit out of Georgia, Wallace recorded four tackles for loss and two sacks during his first season in Lexington. The following season Wallace recorded 54 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. This past season Wallace recorded 80 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and one interception. 

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A former track athlete, Wallace showcased his athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Kentucky linebacker clocked a 4.51 40-yard dash, posted a 37.5-inch vertical and a 10-07 broad jump. It’s no surprise that Wallace was No. 11 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list before the 2023-2024 season. From Feldman:

“The former high school track star — who once jumped 23-4 1/4 inches to break a school record that stood for 44 years and also won the state weightlifting title with a 335-pound power clean — is now up to 242 pounds but still runs 22 MPH on the GPS and vertical-jumps 38.5 inches. His power clean is now up to 380 and he squats almost 600.”

Wallace has good size and length. The Kentucky linebacker has the sideline-to-sideline quickness to shut down perimeter plays. While he’s slow to diagnose he makes up for that with his explosiveness and is quick to the ball carrier. Wallace bursts downhill and averaged nearly a tackle for loss per start during his time as a Wildcat. He has the lateral mobility to weave around the trash to locate the ball carrier.

His long arms give him a wide tackle radius and he’s a reliable open-field tackler. During his first two seasons, Wallace was tagged with eight missed tackles and this past season whiffed on 10 tackle attempts.

“He can be really good against the run,” Vance Meek, the managing editor for UKWildcatswire.usatoday.com, said. “He gets downhill quickly and tackles well. Once he diagnoses the play, he gets to the ball in a hurry and is a good tackler. He has the potential to be terrific in run defense if he can learn to diagnose quicker.”

Wallace is light on his feet and has excellent movement skills. He has the fluidity and speed to turn and run with tight ends and running backs. The Kentucky linebacker never seems out of place and is quick to drive on routes in front him to limit YAC. 

“His athleticism is the draw, but he’s a piece of clay in need of molding,” Meek said. “He has the tools to be really good but needs to be coached up, especially in zone defense.”

During his time at Kentucky, Wallace logged 412 snaps on special teams and recorded three tackles. 

Fit with the Packers

The Packers not only need to add depth to the linebacker room. They need to add an impact player to pair with Quay Walker. With his quickness, Wallace and Walker would give Jeff Hafley two athletic linebackers to let loose and give opposing team fits that try to run outside the hashes.

“He has as much upside as any linebacker in this class,” Meek said. “His athleticism can’t be taught. If I’m a general manager, I’m using my Day 3 picks to bet on traits, and Wallace has those for days.”

Wallace is sort of cut from the same cloth as Walker. The athleticism and tools are undeniable. It’s the reactive quickness that forces them to be a step late to things.

Unlike Walker, Wallace was a proven playmaker at the collegiate level. The Packers want to force more turnovers and Wallace led the Wildcats in interceptions in 2022 and has a knack for making drive-changing plays.

Once Wallace starts to get a clearer picture of what’s happening in front of him, he could develop into a four-down force. At only 21 years old, the Packers will more than likely be happy to take a bet on Wallace’s tools.

Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace hosted by Green Bay Packers on pre draft visit

Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace visited the Green Bay Packers.

The Green Bay Packers hosted Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace on a top 30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, per Aaron Wilson.

Wallace, who entered the draft after his junior season, had 166 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and three interceptions over 36 games and 19 starts at Kentucky.

Wallace (6-1, 237) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, hit 37.5″ in the vertical leap and covered 10-7 in the broad jump at the NFL Combine. He produced 20 reps in the bench press at his pro day, and his Relative Athletic Score is an impressive 9.33 out of 10.0.

Trevin Wallace is projected to be a top 100 pick, likely to go sometime in the  third round. He is a raw talent but fits perfectly in the modern day as a do it all, rangy linebacker. His ability to get sideline to sideline to make tackles is a skill that NFL teams covet. His athletic potential will make him a popular name on day two of the draft, and the Green Bay Packers can certainly use that.

Draft history indicates type of LB Cowboys are looking for

Looking at size and athletic testing can help determine which LB prospects fit the Cowboys. | From @ReidDHanson

Everyone has a type; a type of car, a type of ice cream and even a type of significant other. The Cowboys are certainly no exception. They too have types when they embark in roster building.

Dallas still needs to replenish the ranks at linebacker this offseason and with most of the premium options in free agency off the board, it’s likely they’ll turn to draft to satisfy those needs. 2024 isn’t a very rich draft in LB talent but it does offer a range of options at various stages in the process. The Cowboys shouldn’t feel obligated to address it early unless a specific prospect truly compels them to.

It’s been reported they’ve had official 30-visits from LBs such as Payton Wilson, Junior Colson, Edgerrin Cooper, Jordan Magee, Nathaniel Watson and Trevin Wallace. With so many notable prospects, it’s clear Dallas has prioritized the LB position in their scouting this year. Size, skill, and athleticism will all play into the decision as to which prospects the Cowboys will hunt and which prospects they’ll scratch off their list.

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Looking at measurements and testing from the Cowboys’ previous LB draft picks it can be determined what thresholds they’re looking at when making these determinations. Arjun Menon collected data going back to 2011 to gain insight into these thresholds. For Dallas it’s clear they really do have a type at LB.

Height, not so surprisingly, headlines the list of unique LB traits for the Cowboys. At an average height of 74.6 inches (6-foot-2), Dallas is second in the NFL, trailing only New Orleans. Weight is similarly an important trait for the Cowboys with an average weight of 243.8. While EDGE players like Micah Parsons might skew the stats a little in these categories, it’s still clear the Cowboys like big LBs patrolling the second level.

Of the scouted LBs listed above, none appear to be overwhelmingly imposing in stature. Falling between 228 pounds and 238 pounds and standing between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-4, most miss Dallas’ typical size thresholds.

The Cowboys also seem to value three-cone times in their LB prospects. Most of their picks since 2011 have finished in plus territory here, indicating agility and change of direction are important to them as well.

With a 6.85 three-cone time, Wilson stands out above most in this regard. Many of the others decided to forgo agility testing but it’s assumed Wallace would score well given his other athletic numbers.

The Cowboys are clearly scouting this LB class heavily but besides Wilson, no one truly jumps out as a true Cowboys-type of LB. It’s safe to assume given the needs at the position and number of prospects scouted, the Cowboys won’t be overly hung up on measurables like they may have been in the past. But they will still play a part because the Cowboys, like everyone else, have a “type.”

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Bucs hosting underrated LB prospect for visit ahead of 2024 NFL draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hosting a sleeper prospect at linebacker as they prepare for the 2024 NFL draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going through their official visits with some of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL draft class, and they have one of the most underrated linebackers at One Bucs Place this week.

Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace is in town Monday and Tuesday to meet with the Bucs, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Athletic and physical, Wallace is expected to come off the board sometime in the middle rounds. After letting Devin White walk in free agency, the Bucs need another high-upside linebacker who could challenge for the other starting spot opposite Lavonte David.

If Wallace is on the board when the Bucs make their fourth-round pick, he would be a solid choice if they haven’t addressed the position with one of their earlier selections.

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Kentucky LB Trevin Wallace visits Panthers on Monday

It appears as though Kentucky LB Trevin Wallace is visiting the Panthers this afternoon.

The trips to Bank of America Stadium continue.

A peek at Trevin Wallace’s Instagram story would indicate that he’s visiting the Carolina Panthers this afternoon. The University of Kentucky linebacker is currently projected as a Day 3 pick for the upcoming 2024 NFL draft.

Wallace, a Jesup, Ga. native, spent all three of his collegiate seasons in Lexington. There, he amassed 166 total tackles (18 for a loss), 10.0 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and four passes defensed over 36 games.

At 6-foot-1 and 237 pounds, Wallace possesses a very intriguing blend of size for an inside linebacker. Those measurables are even more impressive considering he clocked his 40-yard dash at 4.51 seconds—the third-fastest amongst all players at his position from this year’s scouting combine.

Along with Wallace, the Panthers have also recently brought in wide receiver Troy Franklin, tight end Ben Sinnott, center Jackson Powers-Johnson and defensive linemen Maason Smith and Ruke Orhorhoro, among others.

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