The TCU defense is known for having one of the best, if not the best secondary in all of college football. The Horned Frogs have two safeties heading to the NFL with Trevon Moehrig (report on him here) and Ar’Darius Washington (report on him here). Along with those two, the Horned Frogs also have Tre’vius Hodges-Tomlinson as one of the best cornerback prospects in the nation, who just so happens to be the nephew of LaDainian Tomlinson. The unsung hero on the defense is Garret Wallow. He started his career as a safety but made the transition to linebacker following his freshman season.
Wallow doesn’t have many talks as one of the underrated linebackers in the class for some reason. He got an invite to the Senior Bowl but couldn’t participate in the festivities due to contracting Covid-19. Wallow made the most of his pro day and is now looking to make noise at the next level.
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Player Bio
Name: Garret Wallow
Jersey: #30
Position: Linebacker
School: TCU
Class: Senior
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 220 lbs
Tackling (9/10)
Wallow is an aggressive tackler. He won’t miss many tackles and can take down the ball carrier mid-stride without much help.
Sideline-to-Sideline Ability (7/10)
Wallow doesn’t have the best sideline-to-sideline skills. He is a bit undersized for the position and doesn’t have elite speed to make up for the loss of length. Wallow ran a 4.65 40-yard dash, which is fine, but it could’ve been better. His intensity helps him a ton here.
Awareness (8.5/10)
He plays with patience and knows when to attack and when to let the play ride a bit before attacking. Wallow’s experience helps him a lot, and he seemingly knows the general vicinity of where the ball is going right from the snap.
Versatility (8.75/10)
He is a very versatile player. Wallow spent most of his freshman season on special teams, where he led the team in tackles. He split time at safety and linebacker during the 2018 season before transitioning full-time to the second level of the defense. Wallow spent time for the Horned Frogs mainly as a WILL or SAM linebacker but was the full-time leader of the defense.
Decision-Making (7/10)
He will sometimes pick the wrong gap to run through when trying to make a tackle or gives up a big gain because he had the best angle on the ball carrier and didn’t process the play quick enough. There are times where Wallow will look like he was in the offensive huddle by shooting the right gaps. The inconsistencies need fixing.
Block Shedding (5/10)
His length is very concerning when it comes to block deconstruction. He is explosive, but when linemen get their hands on him, it’s just about over. Wallow is hit or miss here.
Short-Area Quickness (7/10)
He is explosive, but again, hit or miss. There were a few times where Wallow would knock the ball loose as a result of him firing through gaps and smashing into the runner. Other times, he seemed to be a bit lost.
Coverage (8.5/10)
As a former safety, Wallow knows what to do in coverage. In the middle of the defense, he can cover tight ends and running backs one on one. Wallow does great against crossing routes and running backs out of the backfield. The most surprising part is how he can stay step-for-step with slot receivers down the seam.
Football IQ (8.25/10)
Wallow has over three years of starting experience, and it shows. Wallow is the commander of the TCU defense and was seen getting the other defenders in position pre-snap.
Competitive Toughness (5/5)
He is the leader of the defense. Wallow was the main captain throughout 2020 and has no problem doing any talking. He has a ton of energy, and when the defense needs a spark, he will give it his all, whether on a sideline meeting or making a play on the field. His personality flows with the rest of the defense. Wallow is an intense player in the middle of the defense.
Injury (4.5/5)
Wallow played through an injury during the 2020 season. There doesn’t appear to be many details on the injury itself, but it seemed to have lingered.
Player Summary
The 2021 linebacker class is quietly one of the deepest. While Micah Parsons, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Zaven Collins are getting most of the attention, players like Wallow can be found later on in the draft. Wallow is one of my “my-guys” in the class, and it is easy to see why. His blend of coverage, instincts, tackling, and versatility shine, and there aren’t any true weaknesses outside of his length and block deconstruction. Wallow can be found on day three and will provide whichever team selects him with a steal.
Final Grade (78.5/100): Mid Third Round
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