ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Despite being a late addition to the 2023 recruiting class, and rated just a three-star recruit, there have been rave reviews coming out of Schembechler Hall for freshman cornerback DJ Waller.
Waller has already played 54 snaps through four games, almost certainly poised to burn his redshirt with Michigan football. But what’s allowed him to break through and earn accolades so early?
Just last year, Will Johnson was in Waller’s position, albeit as a five-star blue-chip cornerback, himself. So Johnson has a little insight on what it takes to break in early.
He says that Waller’s size at 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, is one component, but he’s also put in the work and has taken to the coaching.
“He’s a huge, huge corner out there — very long, very instinctual,” Johnson said. “So having those two features about him is some of the biggest you need at corner. Now you just got to, like everybody, keep getting better every week, keep working those — like Coach Clink likes to say, find out (where they can improve and what they need to work on). And like you said, by the end of the year, he’ll be ready to go.”
Waller isn’t the only first-year cornerback who’s seen the field early and often.
Jyaire Hill has come in during key stretches early in games, and has 49 snaps according to PFF. Johnson says that his athleticism is what’s allowed Hill to find time on the gridiron perhaps earlier than expected.
“He’s always around the ball,” Johnson said. “He’s very athletic, kind of same as a DJ — both freak athletes. Soon enough, he’ll be out there and making plays.”
Will one or both freshman corners travel in Week 5? Michigan will head to Lincoln to face Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday.