University of Minnesota Athletics

2024 Football Roster

Walley_Justin
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Justin Walley
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Justin Walley
Jersey Number 5

Justin Walley

  • Position:
    DB
  • Ht./Wt.:
    5-11 / 195
  • Hometown:
    D’Iberville, Miss.
  • High School:
    D’Iberville
  • Years in College / At Minnesota:
    4 / 4
  • Remaining Eligibility Entering 2025 Season:
    1 year
  • Letters:
    3
  • Class:
    Senior
PRONUNCIATION

HONORS:
2025 NFL Scouting Combine invitation
All-Big Ten Second Team (2024, coaches)
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2024 [media], 2023)
Academic All-Big Ten (2024, 2022)

2024 SENIOR SEASON: Started all 10 games he played in • made 42 tackles • had two tackles for loss and one sack • broke up 10 passes and had two interceptions totaling 102 return yards. Game-by-Game: Made six tackles and returned one interception for 70 yards against North Carolina • tallied one tackle against Rhode Island and broke up one pass • notched one tackle against Nevada • missed the Iowa and Michigan games with an injury • tallied three tackles and broke up four passes against USC • notched six tackles at UCLA • returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown against Maryland and also made seven tackles and had three pass breakups • broke up one pass, had one tackle for loss and made seven tackles at Illinois • had four tackles at Rutgers • made three tackles at Penn State • totaled four tackles, one sack and one pass breakup at Wisconsin • declared for the 2025 NFL Draft prior to the Virginia Tech game. 

2023 JUNIOR SEASON: Started all 13 games • made 45 tackles (39 solo) and had two tackles for loss • broke up eight passes and had one interception • forced one fumble and recovered one fumble. Game-by-Game: Made eight tackles, forced one fumble and broke up one pass against Nebraska • broke up one pass and totaled one tackle against Eastern Michigan • notched two tackles at North Carolina • registered seven tackles (all solo) at Northwestern • broke up two passes and had one tackle against Louisiana • made two tackles against Michigan • had four tackles, one pass breakup and one interception at Iowa • totaled three tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup against Michigan State • recorded three tackles, two pass breakups, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery against Illinois • had one tackle at Purdue • made four tackles at Ohio State • totaled five tackles against Wisconsin • recorded four tackles against Bowling Green. 

2022 SOPHOMORE SEASON: Started all 13 games • made 39 tackles (28 solo) • had three interceptions, broke up two passes, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble. Game-by-Game: Made two tackles and broke up one pass against New Mexico State • had one tackle against Western Illinois • totaled three tackles and one pass breakup against Colorado • had three tackles at Michigan State and also made one interception and recovered one fumble • registered six tackles against Purdue • recorded two tackles at Illinois • made one tackle at Penn State and returned a first-quarter interception for 37 yards • started against Rutgers • made one tackle at Nebraska • made four tackles against Northwestern • totaled eight tackles against Iowa • totaled four tackles (all solo) at Wisconsin and returned a fourth-quarter interception for 28 yards • made six tackles and forced one fumble against Syracuse.

2021 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in all 13 games and started the final six of the season • made 29 tackles, broke up seven passes, recovered two fumbles, forced one fumble and made one interception • named to the 247Sports True Freshman All-American team. Game-by-Game: Saw action against Ohio State • made one tackle against Miami (OH) • registered two tackles and broke up one pass at Colorado • competed against Bowling Green • recorded five tackles and broke up two passes at Purdue • made three tackles against Nebraska • broke up one pass and registered three tackles against Maryland • recovered one fumble for a touchdown and totaled three tackles at Northwestern • made two tackles against Illinois • broke up two passes, forced and recovered one fumble and had three tackles at Iowa • recorded one tackle at Indiana • grabbed an interception and registered five tackles against Wisconsin • made one tackle and broke up one pass against West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended D’Iberville High School in D’Iberville, Mississippi • wore No. 5 for the Warriors • as a senior, led team to 10-1 record and Region 4-6A title as he was named Class 6A Mississippi Mr. Football • recorded 55 tackles, two interceptions and two blocked kicks • rushed 106 times for 1,005 yards and 19 touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 329 yards and one touchdown • as a junior, recorded 74 tackles and one interception • coached by Larry Dolan • consensus three-star recruit • ranked as the No. 57 cornerback in the nation by ESPN and Rivals • ranked as the No. 9 prospect in Mississippi according to Rivals.

PERSONAL: Son of Oliver Walley and Kandice McCann • has two siblings (Jaden and Jordan) • brother, Jaden Walley, played college football at Mississippi State • cousin, Dee McCann, played college football at West Virginia and spent time in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.
Game Trailer: Gophers-Demons
Friday, September 05
Coach Fleck Previews Northwestern State
Monday, September 01
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win Opener
Monday, September 01
Ski-U-March Season Opener
Friday, August 29