Amari Wallace is on the move.
The former Miami Hurricanes defensive back is heading west, transferring to Sacramento State in search of something every young player craves: opportunity. After a freshman season that saw limited action, Wallace is betting on himself-and his talent-to earn more meaningful snaps in a new environment.
Wallace arrived at Miami as one of the more heralded defensive backs in the 2024 recruiting class. A four-star prospect out of Miami Central High School, he brought a strong résumé to Coral Gables: 73 tackles, six interceptions, 11 passes defended, and a reputation for making plays all over the field.
Ranked among the top 100 players in Florida and top 40 safeties nationally, Wallace had no shortage of offers. Powerhouse programs like Alabama, Florida, and LSU all came calling, but he chose to stay home with the Hurricanes.
He joined a loaded recruiting class that included other blue-chip names like wide receiver Malachi Toney, running back Girard Pringle Jr., and fellow safety Bryce Fitzgerald. But even with that kind of talent infusion, Wallace found himself buried on a depth chart stacked with experience.
Miami’s secondary was deep. Veterans like Damari Brown, Xavier Lucas, and Zechariah Poyser were already entrenched, and the Hurricanes added even more competition through the portal, bringing in Keionte Scott and Jakobe Thomas. For a young safety trying to break through, the path to playing time was anything but clear.
Now, Wallace heads to a Sacramento State program that’s also been active in the transfer portal, bringing in a wave of defensive backs including Donovan Turner, Dionte Thornton, Darson Jeanty, Noah King, Nikko Klemm, and Boogie Silvera. But unlike at Miami, where the logjam in the secondary was tough to crack, Wallace enters a situation where the door to the field is more open-especially for a player with his instincts and athleticism.
Wallace is known for being a ballhawk with a nose for turnovers and the kind of range that coaches covet in today’s game. He’s not just a physical presence-he’s a playmaker, and Sacramento State is giving him the chance to show it.
The Hornets are in a transitional phase of their own. They’re leaving the Big Sky Conference and will play as an FBS independent this upcoming season after their waiver to join the Football Bowl Subdivision was denied in 2025. That means the level of competition won’t quite match what Wallace saw at Miami, but the trade-off is clear: more snaps, more film, more chances to shine.
And who’s to say this is the final stop? In today’s college football landscape, the portal giveth and the portal taketh. If Wallace puts together a strong season, he could find himself right back in the FBS conversation, armed with experience and production.
For now, though, he’s got a fresh start and a real shot to make an impact. Sometimes that’s all a young player needs.