Levi Wallace

Wallace attended Tucson High School in Tucson, Arizona, where he played football and track and field.{{Cite magazine |last=Walsh |first=Christopher |date=March 17, 2022 |title=Throwback Thursday: How Levi Wallace Went From Tucson to Tuscaloosa and Walked On Alabama |url=https://www.si.com/college/alabama/football/throwback-thursday-levi-wallace-tucson-tuscaloosa-alabama-steelers |access-date=November 29, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}} He received very little recruiting interest due to his slender frame, athletic limitations, and underwhelming statistical production as a wide receiver, cornerback, and kick returner. After receiving no scholarship offers, Wallace decided to attend the University of Alabama, as his father grew up in Tuscaloosa and was a fan of their football team. Wanting to stay involved in athletics, he played intramural flag football during his first semester in fall of 2013. He considered leaving the university after his first semester, as his father was suffering from ALS and in increasingly poor health. However, his father convinced him to try out for a spot on the Crimson Tide football team as a walk-on. Wallace agreed, and after a successful tryout in January 2014, he was granted a spot as a walk-on defensive back.https://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/130603/how-levi-wallace-went-from-a-walk-on-to-a-star-at-alabama

Wallace spent his first two seasons at Alabama on the scout team. He eventually earned a scholarship in Alabama’s fall camp in 2016. He played in 11 games, primarily on special teams and as a backup cornerback, recording 11 tackles and two pass breakups{{Cite web |last=Scarborough |first=Alex |date=November 2, 2017 |title=How Levi Wallace went from a walk-on to a star at Alabama |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/130603/how-levi-wallace-went-from-a-walk-on-to-a-star-at-alabama |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/levi-wallace/3957

During his senior year in 2017, following the departure of Marlon Humphrey to the NFL, Wallace started 14 games at cornerback. He was a starter during the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game, where Alabama won in overtime over Georgia, 26–23.{{Cite web |last=Waldstein |first=David |date=January 9, 2018 |title=Alabama Wins National Championship With a Halftime Twist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/sports/alabama-national-championship.html |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=New York Times}} Wallace totaled 48 tackles, two sacks, 18 pass breakups, and three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) in his senior year.{{Cite web |title=Levi Wallace 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/levi-wallace-1/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=November 12, 2018 |website=Sports Reference}}https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/levi-wallace/3957

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 0 1/4

| weight = 179

| dash = 4.63

| ten split = 1.56

| twenty split = 2.57

| shuttle = 4.26

| cone drill = 6.91

| vertical = 33

| wonderlic =

| arm span = 32 3/4

| hand span = 9 3/8

| note = All values from NFL Combine/Alabama’s Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/levi-wallace/32005741-4c46-5573-953a-9acfeb7cb853 |title=Levi Wallace Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=January 4, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1020034&DraftYear=2018 |title=Levi Wallace College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=October 11, 2024}}

}}

On May 1, 2018, the Buffalo Bills signed Wallace to a three-year, $1.71 million contract as an undrafted free agent.{{cite web |title=Spotrac.com: Levi Wallace contract |url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/levi-wallace-25587/ |access-date=January 4, 2019 |website=Spotrac.com}} Throughout training camp, Wallace competed for a roster spot as a backup cornerback against Taron Johnson, Ryan Carter, Breon Borders, and Lafayette Pitts.{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Sean |date=July 7, 2018 |title=2018 Buffalo Bills scouting report: cornerback Levi Wallace |url=https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2018/7/7/17536372/2018-buffalo-bills-scouting-report-cornerback-levi-wallace-90-players-in-90-days |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Buffalo Rumblings|publisher=SB Nation |language=en}} On September 1, 2018, the Bills waived Wallace as part of their final roster cuts, but signed him to their practice squad the following day.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Matt |date=September 2, 2018 |title=Buffalo Bills add eight recent cuts to practice squad including Dean Marlowe, Keith Ford |url=https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2018/9/2/17811632/buffalo-bills-practice-squad-2018-cam-phillips-dean-marlowe-levi-wallace-keith-ford-mike-love |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Buffalo Rumblings |publisher=SB Nation |language=en}}

On November 6, 2018, the Bills promoted Wallace from their practice squad to the active roster after releasing Phillip Gaines.{{Cite web |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=November 7, 2018 |title=Buffalo Bills call up Levi Wallace |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2018/11/buffalo-bills-call-up-cornerback-levi-wallace.html |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=AL.com |language=en}} On November 11, 2018, Wallace made his professional regular season debut and first career start and made one tackle and a pass deflection during a 41–10 victory at the New York Jets in Week 10.{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2018 |title=Bills' Levi Wallace: Earns start in NFL debut |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/bills-levi-wallace-earns-start-in-nfl-debut/ |access-date=November 12, 2018 |website=CBSSports.com}} In Week 16, he collected a season-high eight combined tackles during a 24–12 loss at the New England Patriots.{{Cite web |title=Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots - December 23rd, 2018 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201812230nwe.htm |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He finished his rookie season in 2018 with 37 combined tackles (24 solo) and three pass deflections in seven games and seven starts.{{Cite web |title=Levi Wallace 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WallLe00/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

Wallace was named a starting cornerback to begin the season, opposite Tre'Davious White.{{Cite web |url=https://buffalonews.com/2019/09/28/buffalo-bills-levi-wallace-alabama-crimson-tide-no-scholarship-national-champion-undrafted-nfl-starter-new-england-patriots-2019/ |title=Bills' Levi Wallace: From no scholarship to national champ, undrafted to NFL starter |last=Wolf |first=Jason |date=September 28, 2019 |website=The Buffalo News |language=en-us |access-date=December 18, 2019}} Following an inconsistent start to the season, Wallace eventually saw his playing time reduced in favor of Kevin Johnson.{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2019 |title=All-22 analysis: Buffalo Bills corner Levi Wallace |url=https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2019/11/21/20973438/all-22-analysis-buffalo-bills-corner-levi-wallace |access-date=December 18, 2019 |website=Buffalo Rumblings|publisher=SB Nation |language=en}} In week 15, Wallace caught his first career interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, picking off Devlin Hodges to seal a 17–10 Bills victory in the final moments to help Buffalo clinch a playoff berth.{{Cite web |url=https://kvoa.com/sports/2019/12/16/wallaces-pick-seals-playoff-trip-for-bills/ |title=Wallace's pick seals playoff trip for Bills |last=Kelly |first=David |date=December 16, 2019 |website=KVOA |language=en-US |access-date=December 18, 2019}} In the regular season finale against the Jets, Wallace logged another interception off Sam Darnold, but suffered a sprained ankle on the play,{{Cite web |url=https://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/2019/12/nfl-playoffs-buffalo-bills-cb-levi-wallace-day-to-day-with-ankle-sprain-report.html |title=NFL Playoffs: Buffalo Bills CB Levi Wallace day-to-day with ankle sprain (report) |last=Talbot |first=Ryan |date=December 30, 2019 |website=syracuse |language=en |access-date=January 3, 2020}} which kept him out of the Bills' playoff game against the Houston Texans.{{Cite web |url=https://buffalonews.com/2020/01/04/buffalo-bills-houston-texans-nfl-inactives-duke-williams-robert-foster/ |title=Levi Wallace out for Bills against Texans; Duke Williams active over Robert Foster |last=Skurski |first=Jay |date=January 4, 2020 |website=The Buffalo News |language=en-us |access-date=January 7, 2020}} In the 2019 season, he started in all 16 games. He finished with 76 total tackles (66 solo), two interceptions, and nine passes defended.{{Cite web |title=Levi Wallace 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WallLe00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

On April 2, 2020, Wallace was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Bills, regaining his starting position despite the team signing veteran cornerback Josh Norman. In Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams, Wallace recorded his first interception of the season during the 35–32 win.{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills – September 27th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202009270buf.htm |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Wallace injured his ankle the following week against the Las Vegas Raiders and was ruled out the rest of the game.{{Cite web |last=Louis-Jacques |first=Marcel |date=October 4, 2020 |title=Bills CB Wallace ruled out due to ankle injury |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30041416/ankle-injury-sidelines-buffalo-bills-cb-levi-wallace-vs-las-vegas-raiders |access-date=October 5, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} He was placed on injured reserve on October 7, 2020.{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2020 |title=Bills promote CB Cam Lewis to the 53-man roster; Wallace placed on IR |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-promote-cb-cam-lewis-to-the-53-man-roster-wallace-placed-on-ir |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=BuffaloBills.com}} He was activated on October 31.{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2020 |title=Bills activate CB Levi Wallace; elevate CB Dane Jackson |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-activate-cb-levi-wallace-elevate-cb-dane-jackson |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=BuffaloBills.com}} He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on November 14, 2020,{{cite web |last1=Louis-Jacques |first1=Marcel |title=Bills CB Norman tests positive; 3 others on list |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30316783/buffalo-bills-cb-josh-norman-tests-positive-coronavirus-3-others-reserve-covid-19-list |website=ESPN.com |access-date=November 15, 2020 |language=en |date=November 14, 2020}} and activated on November 19.{{cite news |author=Alper, Josh |title=Bills take Levi Wallace, Tyler Kroft, Dean Marlowe off COVID-19 list |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/11/19/bills-take-levi-wallace-tyler-kroft-dean-marlowe-off-covid-19-list/ |website=NBCSports.com |date=November 19, 2020 |access-date=December 19, 2020}} In Week 14 against the Steelers on Sunday Night Football, Wallace intercepted a pass thrown by Ben Roethlisberger late in the fourth quarter to secure a 26–15 win for the Bills.{{Cite web |title=Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills – December 13th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202012130buf.htm |access-date=December 18, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2020 season, Wallace appeared in 12 games, all starts. He finished with 48 total tackles, two interceptions, and eight passes defended.{{Cite web |title=Levi Wallace 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WallLe00/gamelog/2020/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

In the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens, Wallace recorded one sack on Lamar Jackson during the 17–3 win.{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills – January 16th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101160buf.htm |access-date=January 20, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

Wallace re-signed with the Bills on a one-year contract on March 26, 2021.{{cite news |author=Glab, Maddy |title=Bills agree to terms with CB Levi Wallace |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-agree-to-terms-with-cb-levi-wallace |website=BuffaloBills.com |date=March 17, 2021 |access-date=March 27, 2021}}{{cite web |title=2021 NFL Transactions: Signings – March |url=https://www.nfl.com/transactions/league/signings/2021/3 |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 27, 2021}} He became the top cornerback on the roster after White suffered a torn ACL in week 12 and missed the rest of the season, but Buffalo still finished the year with the league's top passing defense despite White's injury. Wallace, in particular, allowed just a 72.6 passer rating when targeted by opposing quarterbacks.{{Cite web |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=March 10, 2022 |title=Did Levi Wallace play his way out of Buffalo? |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2022/03/did-levi-wallace-play-his-way-out-of-buffalo.html |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=AL.com |language=en}} In the 2021 season, Wallace started all 17 regular season games and both of the Bills' postseason games. He finished with 58 total tackles, two interceptions, and ten passes defended.{{Cite web |title=Levi Wallace 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WallLe00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

On March 17, 2022, the Steelers signed Wallace to a two-year, $8 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $2.96 million.{{Cite web |last=Varley |first=Teresa |date=March 17, 2022 |title=Wallace signed to two-year contract |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/wallace-signed-to-two-year-contract |access-date=March 17, 2022 |website=Steelers.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Levi Wallace |url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/levi-wallace-25587/ |access-date=April 23, 2022 |website=Spotrac.com}} In the 2022 season, he appeared in 15 games and started nine. He finished with 48 total tackles, a career-high four interceptions, and 13 passes defended.{{Cite web |title=Levi Wallace 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WallLe00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

On April 22, 2024, the Denver Broncos signed Wallace to a one-year contract.{{cite web | last=DiLalla | first=Aric | title=Broncos sign unrestricted free agent CB Levi Wallace to 1-year contract | website=Denver Broncos | date=2024-04-22 | url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-unrestricted-free-agent-cb-levi-wallace-to-1-year-contract | access-date=2024-10-02}} While filling in for an injured Riley Moss in Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns, Wallace struggled against former Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy who recorded nine catches for 235 yards and a touchdown, the majority of which occurred with Wallace in coverage. This led to Wallace being benched in favor of rookie Kris Abrams-Draine in the 4th quarter.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Broncos' Levi Wallace: Struggles in starting role |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/broncos-levi-wallace-struggles-in-starting-role/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=CBSSports.com |language=}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-12-03 |title=Broncos Fans Demand Release of $11M Cornerback After Browns Loss |url=https://bvmsports.com/2024/12/02/broncos-fans-demand-release-of-11m-cornerback-after-browns-loss/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=BVM Sports |language=}}

On December 24, Wallace was waived by the Broncos.{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=2024-12-24 |title=Broncos designate RB Tyler Badie for return, waive CB Levi Wallace |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/broncos-designate-rb-tyler-badie-for-return-waive-cb-levi-wallace |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=NBC Sports |language=}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Twitter|LeviWallace39}}

{{footballstats|espn=3133440|yahoo=31603|nfl=levi-wallace}}

• [http://www.rolltide.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3957 Alabama Crimson Tide bio]

{{2017 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallace, Levi}}

Category:1995 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players

Category:American football defensive backs

Category:Buffalo Bills players

Category:Denver Broncos players

Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players

Category:Players of American football from Tucson, Arizona

Category:Tucson High School alumni