Georgia Tech Starting Nickelback K.J. Wallace Enters the Transfer Portal

Wallace has been a starter for the Yellow Jackets the past couple of seasons

Georgia Tech starting nickelback K.J. Wallace has entered the transfer portal. 

Wallace has been the main starter at the position for the past two seasons and totaled 45 tackles and an interception in 2022. This season, he had 42 tackles, seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and an interception. 

He transferred to Georgia Tech from Notre Dame prior to the 2022 season. 

Georgia Tech starting defensive back K.J. Wallace has entered the transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @247sports.

Wallace, who transferred to Georgia Tech from Notre Dame, has been a starter for the Yellow Jackets the last two years.https://t.co/NDuOhQkyqD pic.twitter.com/vUDFguCk0E

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 29, 2023

From his bio at Georgia Tech Athletics: 

2023 (Redshirt Junior):Appeared in all 12 regular-season games and made 10 starts at nickel back … Ranks second on the team behind only all-American Jaylon King with seven pass breakups and eight total passes defended … Is tied for second on the team with two forced fumbles … Has an interception and a fumble recovery … Ranks seventh on the team with 39 tackles … Recorded at least one tackle in 11-of-12 games and had multiple stops in 9-of-12 contests … Opened the season with two pass breakups and four tackles against Louisville (Sept. 1) … Had a season-high-tying six tackles at No. 17 Ole Miss (Sept. 16) … Stuffed the stat sheet with five tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in 30-16 win at Wake Forest (Sept. 23) … Forced a fumble in 23-20 win at No. 17 Miami (Fla.) (Oct. 7) … Had six tackles, a half-tackle for loss and a pass breakup against Boston College (Oct. 21) … Recorded a pass breakup and recovered a fumble with less than three minutes to play to seal Georgia Tech’s 46-42 win over No. 17 North Carolina (Oct. 28) … Had five tackles in 45-17 win at Virginia (Nov. 4) … Recorded first interception of the season and broke up a pass against No. 1 Georgia (Nov. 25).

2022 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in 11 games and made nine starts at nickel back … Recorded 46 total tackles (29 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack, with two passes defended and an interception … Totaled six tackles (four solo) with one for loss in the 35-17 win over Western Carolina (Sept. 10) … Then turned in five stops in back-to-back weeks against No. 17 Ole Miss (Sept. 17) and at UCF (Sept. 24) … Hauled in his first career interception in the 23-20 overtime victory against Duke (Oct. 8), also totaling three tackles and a tackle for loss … Tallied a career-best nine tackles at Florida State (Oct. 29), including six solo stops … Recorded his first career sack against Miami (Fla.) (Nov. 12).

2019-21 (Notre Dame): Saw action in 17 games over three seasons at Notre Dame … Retains three seasons of eligibility … Played in four games with one tackle and redshirted as a true freshman in 2019 … Played in three games and recorded three tackles during Covid-shortened 2020 campaign … Saw action in 10 games with one tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2021.

High School: Rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports … Member of the prestigious ESPN 300 list as the No. 19-rated cornerback nationally … Recorded 109 tackles and five interceptions on defense, as well as 145 receptions for 1,631 yards, 763 rushing yards and 30 total touchdowns (15 receiving, 15 rushing) during prep career at nearby Lovett School … Had 34 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, six passes defended, 511 rushing yards, 441 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns (eight rushing, two receiving) as a senior in 2018 … Coached by Mike Muschamp.

K.J. Wallace is entering the transfer portal / Georgia Tech Athletics

Georgia Tech is losing a few defensive players to the portal, some of them starters or rotational players. DB Kenyatta Watson II, DB Kenan Johnson, DL Etinosa Reuben, DL Kyle Kennard, DL Malcolm Pugh, DL Noah Collins, DL Jason Moore, DL Bryston Dixon, DL D'Quan Douse, LB Trenilyas Tatum, and LB Ashton Heflin. This defense had a lot of struggles and will be undergoing some heavy personnel changes next season. 

Georgia Tech Linebacker Trenilyas Tatum Will Enter the Transfer Portal

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