DJ Waller Jr. believes new mindset will lead to results on the field

Michigan transfer DJ Waller Jr. was a big addition in the spring transfer portal window ahead of the 2024 season for the Kentucky program. Expectations were high but the Youngstown native did come short of those expectations. Waller missed a good chunk of fall camp and then suffered an injury during the season. Some changes needed to be made.

The junior believes he has made the needed changes heading into his junior campaign. Waller is running with the starting defense at cornerback as the coaching staff has noticed some big changes in how the former three-star recruit attacked the offseason. Waller had to invest more to become the player he wants to be.

“I just had to buy-in more,” the defensive back said on Thursday. “Me buying in more just made me feel like just confident overall in the field.”

“Watching more film. Doing the extra work. The extra catches. Extra practice reps. Just doing the extra things and not just coming here and going home. To be great, and to be a pro, you have to do extra work. I realize that and it’s rubbing off on me.”

Kentucky’s defensive staff has said this preseason that they believe the secondary can be a strength for this football team. DJ Waller Jr. is a big part of that. The Wildcats are banking on the class of 2023 product becoming the next potential star starting cornerback in Lexington. After a healthy offseason, Waller is ahead of schedule since he now knows what is expected and how this program operates. The off-field work has led to confidence.

“I feel more explosive. My body feels different,” Waller explained. “Like I said, my mind feel different. Just knowing that you put the work in. You know we got nothing to worry about on the field because you know that you put the work in for this time.

After a tough second year in college football, the former national champion made some changes. DJ Waller Jr. believes those changes will lead to results once the games begin.