Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE LB RIAN "GOO" WALLACE CITED AS TOP PLAYER IN BIG EAST CONFERENCE BY COLLEGEFOOTBALLNEWS.COM
6.8.04 | Football
Wallace (6-4, 245), a Second Team All-Big East Conference honoree in 2003, concluded last season by also being named a Second Team All-American by CFN.com. He is the Big East's top returning tackler after posting the sixth-best single-season stops output in school history with 148 tackles (97 solo) and 19.5 tackles-for-losses in 2003. Wallace ranked second in the league and sixth nationally in total tackles (12.33 per game), first in the conference and eighth nationally in solo tackles (8.08) and tied for first in the league and tied for 11th nationally in TFLs (1.63).
This past spring, Wallace was cited as No. 86 on ESPN's "Hot 100" list for 2004.
Wallace has received All-America accolades in each of his two seasons on the collegiate gridiron. In 2002, he was named a Fourth Team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News. Wallace was redshirted as a true freshman in 2001.
Several other Temple student-athletes were also recognized by CFN.com in its 2004 football season preview. Junior signal-caller Walter Washington was named the Big East's seventh best player regardless of position and the league's second-rated quarterback. He was also cited as one of the conference's five "breakout players." Senior linebacker Troy Bennett was named the Big East's 21st-best overall player and its fourth-rated linebacker. Senior wide receiver Phil Goodman was recognized as the league's fifth-rated wideout and junior punter Mike Mclaughlin was lauded as the conference's fourth-rated kicker or punter.
