Temple University Athletics
STEELERS SELECT LB RIAN "GOO" WALLACE IN FIFTH ROUND OF NFL DRAFT
4.24.05 | Football
NEW YORK, NY -- The Pittsburgh Steelers today selected Temple linebacker Rian "Goo" Wallace, a 2004 First Team All-Big East selection, with the 30th pick in the fifth round (166th pick overall) of the National Football League Draft.
Wallace (6-3, 240), a two-time All-Big East honoree after earning second team accolades in 2003, made 101 total tackles (10.1 avg.) in 2004 to rank second in the Big East and 18th nationally in stops. He posted double-digit tackles in six games and seven or more in all 10 contests he played. The Pottstown, Pa. 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.
Wallace decided to forgo his senior season in 2005 and declared for the draft as an underclassman on December 23, 2004.
Wallace becomes the fifty-seventh Temple University football player to be selected in the NFL Draft since 1937. There were nine former Owls on NFL rosters last season, including WR Zamir Cobb ('04), who made the Steelers roster as a rookie free agent before being placed on injured reserve. Wallace is also the eighth Temple player to be selected by Pittburgh in the Draft, joining OT Mathias Nkwenti (4th round, 2001), TE Mike Hinnant (8th round, 1988), OG John Reinstra (1st round, 1986), T Pat Sarnese (ninth round, 1953), T Bill Cloud (19th round, 1946), C Jimmy Woodside (19th round, 1944) and B Andy Tomasic (16th round, 1942).
RIAN "GOO" WALLACE'S CAREER STATS
Season GP-S UT AT 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
