Temple University Athletics
LB RIAN WALLACE TO FORGO FINAL YEAR AT TEMPLE AND ENTER NFL DRAFT
12.23.04 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Temple linebacker Rian "Goo" Wallace, a 2004 First Team All-Big East selection, today announced he will forgo his final season of eligibility and make himself available for the 2005 National Football League Draft.
Wallace (6-4, 245), a repeat All-Big East honoree after earning second team accolades in 2003, made 101 total tackles (10.1 avg.) this season to rank second in the Big East and 20th nationally in stops. He posted double-digit tackles in six games and seven or more in all 10 contests he played. The Pottstown, Pa. (Pottstown H.S.) native made 115 total tackles (11.5 avg.) according to unofficial coaches film estimates. Wallace ranks eighth on Temple's career tackle chart with 325 total stops in 34 games.
In addition to being named an all-conference performer by the league's head coaches, Wallace was also cited as a 2004 First Team All-Big East performer by ESPN.com, CollegeFootballNews.com and Rivals.com.
On the Watch Lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Dick Butkus Award and Rotary Lombardi Award in 2004, Wallace was a CollegeFootballNews.com First Team Preseason All-American, as well as a Third Team Preseason All-American according to both Athlon Sports and Street & Smith's. The Sporting News cited Wallace as its Big East Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.
RIAN "GOO" WALLACE'S CAREER STATS
Season GP-S Solo Ast TT TFL Sack FF FR Int QBH PBU
2002 12-7 51 25 76 6.5 1.0 1 0 1 4 3
2003 12-12 97 51 148 19.5 1.0 0 2 0 1 6
2004 10-10 44 57 101 5.5 0.0 1 2 1 0 0
Totals 34-29 192 133 325 31.5 2.0 2 4 2 5 9
Fifty-six Temple University football players have been selected in the NFL Draft since 1937. There are nine former Owls on NFL rosters this season.
