Levi Wallace

Levi Wallace's Biography

Levi Wallace, an American professional football cornerback, was born on June 12, 1995. Currently, he plays for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). However, he started his football career in college and worked his way up to the pros. Indeed, his journey reveals a story of dedication, hard work, resilience, and undeniably impressive athletic ability.

Wallace was a student-athlete in Tucson High School in Tucson, Arizona, where he not only loved and played football but also took part in track and field events. His high school years fueled his desire to play football at a competitive level, leading him to commit to the University of Alabama. His commitment to this premier institution marked the beginning of his collegiate football journey.

At Alabama, Wallace’s early years were not particularly noteworthy as he did not play during his freshman and sophomore years. However, in 2016, he earned a walk-on scholarship before his junior year, and his performances started improving. In six games, he accumulated 11 tackles. His trajectory of growth continued into his senior year where he started in 14 games. The biggest highlight of his final college year came when he started the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game. In this electrifying match, Alabama secured a thrilling victory, winning in overtime against Georgia with a score of 26-23. Throughout his senior year, Wallace totaled 48 tackles and intercepted the ball three times.

Following his solid performance in his senior year, the Buffalo Bills signed Wallace on May 1, 2018, for a three-year contract worth $1.71 million. Despite his obvious talent, he had to vie for a roster spot as a backup cornerback against other talented players like Taron Johnson, Ryan Carter, Breon Borders, and Lafayette Pitts. Although the Bills waived him as part of their final roster cuts on September 1, 2018, the very next day Wallace was signed to their practice squad.

His official inclusion in the active roster came on November 6, 2018, when the Bills promoted him after releasing Phillip Gaines. He made his professional regular-season debut and got his first career start on November 11, 2018, showcasing his skills with a tackle and a pass deflection during a victory against the New York Jets. His rookie season saw him collect 37 combined tackles and three pass deflections in seven games and seven starts.

In 2019, Wallace once again demonstrated his stellar defensive skills by catching his first career interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. This critical play helped the Bills clinch a playoff spot. Despite suffering an ankle injury, Wallace managed to finish the 2019 season with 76 total tackles, two interceptions, and nine passes defended in 16 games.

Staying with the Bills, Wallace entered the 2020 season and regained his starting position. Though he suffered an ankle injury and had to spend a short time on injured reserve, he returned in full form to record an interception against the Steelers on Sunday Night Football, thereby securing a 26-15 win for the Bills. All in all, he completed the 2020 season with 48 total tackles, two interceptions, and eight passes defended in 12 games.

Wallace kicked off the 2021 season as the top cornerback for the Bills, filling in the gap left by White who suffered a torn ACL. Even in White’s absence, the Bills managed to secure the season as the league’s top passing defense. Wallace shone individually, allowing only a 72.6 passer rating when targeted by opposing quarterbacks. Across 17 regular-season games and two postseason games of the 2021 season, he accomplished 58 total tackles, two interceptions, and ten passes defended.

On March 17, 2022, Wallace took his talent to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They offered him a two-year, $8 million contract, including a signing bonus of $2.96 million. His performance during the Super Bowl season was impressive with 48 total tackles, a career-high four interceptions, and 13 passes defended in 15 games.

Finally, on April 22, 2024, Levi Wallace got signed by the Denver Broncos under a one-year contract. His story from being a walk-on college player to an established professional NFL cornerback tells a tale of sheer determination, grit, and a never-give-up attitude. With still many more seasons to come, Levi Wallace promises to be a player to keep an eye on.