BO WALLACE
New Orleans, LA
Measurables: 6'4", 215 lbs.
Accolades: Semper Fidelis All-American game, All-USA Louisiana team, Times-Picayune District 11-sA team, No. 129 on Tom Lemming’s top 300, State runner-up
Other Impressive Offers: Arizona State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas.
Projected Position: Defensive End.
Quick Take: If you’re looking for a premium pass rusher in this recruiting class, Wallace is it. No, he’s not one of the big fish that the Irish were initially chasing, but there’s reason to believe that Wallace will be an impact pass rusher, even if it takes a year or two to get there.
Look at Wallace as somewhere between Jhonny Williams and Kolin Hill. He’s lacking the bulk that Williams has but has a bit more length than Hill, who was a designated pass rusher at times last year. He’s going to need to gain some weight, but there’s a lot of fast twitch there, and that’s something needed on this defense.
What he means to the Irish: Notre Dame went into John Curtis, a powerhouse New Orleans football program, and got one of their best prospects. That’s a big victory for this staff, and a credit to Kerry Cooks, who handled that region for Notre Dame.
More functionally, Wallace is a nice hybrid player who can exist as a linebacker or rush defensive end. Getting his weight up will be important, but that versatility will continue to help the Irish be a very good third down team.
Obligatory YouTube clip: Here’s Wallace’s official preview from our friends at UND.com:
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