BleedGopher
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Height: 5101 (verified)
Weight: 190lbs (verified)
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: KeiVarae Russell
He’s been up and down with penalties and chunk plays conceded throughout his four-year career, but if he’s able to play with a more consistent presence, he could be a valuable piece of an NFL cornerback room.
As a true freshman, Walley was a rotational player early on who assumed a starting role with the program halfway through the season. He started the final six games of the season and would go on to start every game he played with the program for the remaining three seasons. He started 13 games in each of 2022 and 2023 before starting in 2024.
Walley was named Second Team All-Big Ten for his play as a senior in 2024.
Walley’s aggression can get the better of him in a number of phases of the position. He can, at times, be too aggressive at the top of routes and will fail to trust his technique to mirror and plaster breaks. In these instances, his hands can be overactive, and he could tempt officials to throw flags. He’s been called for 12 total penalties across his career.
Additionally, Walley can be too wild and out of control at the point of first contact when defending the run. This habit can contribute to ineffective tackle attempts that often see him lunging and not bringing his feet through contact. It is easy to appreciate the attitude and eagerness he brings, but as a smaller defender, he would greatly benefit from more discipline in his fits to come to balance and effectively challenge the play.
However, Walley has some appealing traits and an athletic profile worth investing some time into. He has good long speed and sufficient length to play on the hip and contest throws. He’s had good ball production throughout his career.
If he can feel the receiver's body while identifying the football, he’s combative about reaching out and interrupting the catch point. Walley also has good trigger-and-close ability from leveraged coverage against quick-breaking routes. He offers the needed spring to take angles into the catch window.
Walley’s aggression and willingness to fit the run project inside, but he’s not necessarily well built to thrive inside, so he may be a coverage and matchup-specific option, even at his peak.
Grade: 69.50/100.00, Sixth Round Value
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Go Gophers!!
Weight: 190lbs (verified)
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: KeiVarae Russell
Scouting Overview
Minnesota Golden Gophers cornerback Justin Walley projects as a developmental outside cornerback at the NFL level. Walley has good juice and burst to play in space but has been a feast-or-famine coverage player.He’s been up and down with penalties and chunk plays conceded throughout his four-year career, but if he’s able to play with a more consistent presence, he could be a valuable piece of an NFL cornerback room.
2025 NFL Combine Results
| Position | Name | School | 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Split | Broad Jump | Vertical Jump | 3-Cone Drill | 20-Yard Shuttle | Bench Press |
| CB | Justin Walley | Minnesota | 4.4 | 1.52 |
Positives
- Offers good foot speed and transitional quickness in space
- A well-tenured defender with more than 40 career starts in the Big Ten
- Shows an appetite to get involved in run support that is admirable for a corner
Negatives
- Can be much too grabby at times with his back to the football
- Has too many missed tackles trying to square up ball carriers (19% missed tackle rate in 2024)
- Can get fooled by head fakes or well-run routes and concede coverage leverage for a chunk play
Background
Walley is from D’lberville, MI, and played high school football for D’lberville HS. There, he was a 3-star recruit (247 Sports) who was recruited by programs such as Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and others before ultimately committing to Minnesota as a member of the program’s 2021 recruiting class.As a true freshman, Walley was a rotational player early on who assumed a starting role with the program halfway through the season. He started the final six games of the season and would go on to start every game he played with the program for the remaining three seasons. He started 13 games in each of 2022 and 2023 before starting in 2024.
Walley was named Second Team All-Big Ten for his play as a senior in 2024.
Tale Of The Tape
Walley is a feisty, quick-footed cornerback who has the speed and twitch to mirror just about anyone when the technique is right. He’s not an overly long or powerful player, but he does play with an edge that gives him a chance to offset timing in coverage.Walley’s aggression can get the better of him in a number of phases of the position. He can, at times, be too aggressive at the top of routes and will fail to trust his technique to mirror and plaster breaks. In these instances, his hands can be overactive, and he could tempt officials to throw flags. He’s been called for 12 total penalties across his career.
Additionally, Walley can be too wild and out of control at the point of first contact when defending the run. This habit can contribute to ineffective tackle attempts that often see him lunging and not bringing his feet through contact. It is easy to appreciate the attitude and eagerness he brings, but as a smaller defender, he would greatly benefit from more discipline in his fits to come to balance and effectively challenge the play.
However, Walley has some appealing traits and an athletic profile worth investing some time into. He has good long speed and sufficient length to play on the hip and contest throws. He’s had good ball production throughout his career.
If he can feel the receiver's body while identifying the football, he’s combative about reaching out and interrupting the catch point. Walley also has good trigger-and-close ability from leveraged coverage against quick-breaking routes. He offers the needed spring to take angles into the catch window.
Walley’s aggression and willingness to fit the run project inside, but he’s not necessarily well built to thrive inside, so he may be a coverage and matchup-specific option, even at his peak.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Walley projects as a developmental cornerback at the NFL level. He has sufficient length and good initial burst and acceleration, but his stature will likely relegate him to a role inside as a nickel player rather than leaving his aggressive play outside and isolated on the perimeter.Grade: 69.50/100.00, Sixth Round Value
Justin Walley 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Minnesota Golden Gophers CB
Height: 5101 (verified) Weight: 190lbs (verified) Year: Senior Pro Comparison: KeiVarae Russell Minnesota Golden Gophers cornerback Justin Walley projects as a developmental outside cornerback at the NFL level.
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Go Gophers!!
