Temple University Athletics
LB RIAN "GOO" WALLACE NAMED THIRD TEAM PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN BY STREET & SMITH'S
6.9.04 | Football
In addition to the All-America accolades, Wallace was recently recognized as the top player in the Big East Conference regardless of position by CollegeFootballNews.com in its 2004 season preview. The Fox Sports-affiliated web site also named him the Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Several Temple student-athletes were recognized by Street & Smith's in its 2004 season preview. Senior linebacker Troy Bennett was named an Honorable Mention All-American. Junior quarterback Walter Washington was cited as the Best Athlete in the Big East. Junior running back Tim Brown and junior kicker Ryan Lux were both named to the publication's "Top Juco's Moving On" First Team.
Wallace (6-4, 245), a Second Team All-Big East Conference honoree in 2003, concluded last season by being named a Second Team All-American by CollegeFootballNews.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.
