Greatness is expected to happen for four and five-star players, especially those that were perceived as “Mr. Everything” at their respective high schools.
For guys who choose to walk-on at a big-time institution, the idea is to just be happy for the opportunity and hope for a chance.
In the case of Levi Wallace, he grabbed more than an opportunity.
A product of Tucson, Ariz., Wallace enrolled at the University of Alabama as a 160-pound preferred walk-on in 2014, however, he leaves as one of the better technicians in the secondary that Nick Saban has ever coached.
Fulfilling a dream that his father, Walter Wallace, had for him, the young Wallace earned an athletic scholarship for the Crimson Tide in the summer of 2016.
His journey came full circle last season as he started 13 of 14 games. Wallace had 48 tackles – including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He recorded a team-high 15 pass breakups and three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown versus Mississippi at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Regardless of his quiet demeanor, Wallace’s tipped pass into the arms of Mack Wilson for a touchdown versus Clemson in the Allstate Sugar Bowl is everything but quiet. His determination in not giving up on plays helped Alabama punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff National Championship where it defeated University of Georgia, 26-23 in Atlanta.
Coach Saban bonds with players on different levels, and when it comes to those like Wallace, he takes pride in discussing how they embody not only “The Process,” but the program in general.
“Levi is one of those guys that you have a soft spot in your heart for,” Saban said at Senior Bowl practice last week in Mobile, Ala. “You love to see guys who are sort of in an underdog position when they come in and they really work hard. Levi has always been a good player, but he was just small. He started to grow and got bigger and stronger and quit getting pushed around.”
From his first career interception against Florida State to picking off Ole Miss quarterback Shea Patterson twice, Wallace seemed to be in the right place at the right time throughout 2017.
“He’s a great technician,” Saban said.
“Levi is a really smart player and is very instinctive. He played great for us this year and it’s great to see a guy like that who walked on, earned his way in everything that he did and is now playing in the Senior Bowl.”
He would record only two tackles in Saturday’s exhibition, but NFL scouts did see a lot of his lock down style in press coverage. Despite some struggles in zone schemes, Wallace’s instincts and work ethic to add more weight could slot him as a nickel player at the next level.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
