DJ Waller Believes He Can Be Better Player, Person At UK

Defensive back DJ Waller with Vince Marrow, his father and UK secondary coach Chris Collins.

He seemed to be in position to be a starting cornerback for defending national champion Michigan next season but DJ Waller thought he needed a change.

He put his name into the transfer portal less than a week ago and Saturday he committed and signed with Kentucky after a weekend visit.

The Youngstown, Ohio, native seriously considered Kentucky before picking Michigan where he played in 11 games during the national championship season. He had 12 tackles and one pass breakup in 11 games.

Waller said he had not known UK recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow, a Youngstown native, a long time but had a special connection with him.

“The first thing that stands out about Kentucky is the family feeling. It’s also the SEC and that’s close to the NFL. They have put out good DBs (defensive backs). I knew I would be taken care of there,” Waller said.

“Vince understands me and that’s a big reason I picked Kentucky. Vince and I kind of had a natural connection because of where we are from. We just clicked real fast.”

Why leave a national championship team where he was in position to be a starter?

“Everybody has to do what is best for them. Beside the football part being taken care of at Kentucky, I am just trying to be a better person. I  know I am in good hands with the Kentucky staff. I trust everybody and know they have got my back,” Waller said. “I kind of already knew I would commit.”

The 6-3, 205-pound Waller describes himself as “very chippy” on the outside at cornerback.

“I can cover, tackle, whatever the team wants me to do,” he said. “Kentucky has a good defense but I just want to be a lockdown player and make plays for the team and be a dog on the outside. I learned a lot at Michigan about football and other stuff.”

Waller, who will have three years of eligibility remaining, could be a major factor in the UK secondary. The Cats return starting cornerback Maxwell Hairston but lost Andre Phillips to the NFL and Jordan Robinson to the transfer portal. JQ Hardaway, Jantzen Dunn and  Nasir Addison are the top returning players expected to be a potential starter opposite Hairston.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said Waller was “awesome” during spring practice.

“He’s been super impressive — super long, super athletic. I think he’s going to be a phenomenal player,” Moore said during spring drills.

Waller added weight/muscle at Michigan but said he remains lean and fast.

“I am very lean. I don’t look 205 but I am,” Waller said. “I have long arms and can jam a receiver, I can run with any receiver I feel like. I can just be a dog and I do not want to get beat. I want to make receivers have a hard time.

“I have very good game speed and can run with any receiver. I may not look like I have that speed with my track times but I am very fast.”

Waller likes the system Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White uses because he “tries to highlight players and put them in spots they can thrive” with his various schemes.

He’s also not worried about being ready to play when the season starts.

“I have plenty of time to be ready. The defense they run, I kind of ran it already,” Waller said. “It’s just some different terminology here but I will be locked in and be fully ready before the season starts.”