MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football defensive lineman SirCalvin Wallace recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss the origins of his unique first name, what it meant to him to be able to come back from a mid-season injury and what he likes most about playing on the interior of the defensive line, among other things.
Wallace, a senior from Tyler Texas, has been a member of the South Alabama roster since transferring from North Texas prior to the start of the 2016 season. In his one season with the Jags, Wallace has had an immediate impact both on the defensive front and the unit as a whole. He has played in seven of USA's 10 games, missing three due to injury. This season, Wallace has recorded 14 total tackles – five solo and nine assisted – while recording one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.
SirCalvin is a unique name; how did your parents give you that name?
"When I was born, my mama had a really rude nurse and she basically let the nurse know that she wasn't going to disrespect her son so she made the nurse call me 'Sir' and from that point on, she named me SirCalvin."
You transferred here from North Texas over the summer, how what led to you deciding to come to South?
"When I first talked to coach [Brian] Turner, I just really felt like this was the place for me to come to. I had a few other places that I was looking at that wasn't as big, but after talking to coach Turner a couple of times, I knew this is the place that I wanted to be."
How would you rate your experience here at South in just this short time?
"It's actually really been great, even with the injury. I love the guys on my team to death. It's kind of crazy how quick I got adjusted here and fit in with the group so fast. It's hard sometimes to go to a different place after you've been at a place for four years like I was at North Texas, but the guys here took me under their arms and it's been great since I've been here."
A lot of the other members on the team, especially on the defense look to you as a leader. How have you embraced that role?
"Being looked at as a leader feels great too. When I was at North Texas, I couldn't really be a leader because of my past. Things weren't always as bright as they are for me now. I think it's an honor for the younger guys like Zach Befort, Tyree Turner, Sean Brown and Sean Grayer to look up to me. I've been in their shoes before and didn't really know as much as I should've known and still trying to figure out my game. I just want to help those younger guys as much as I can and be as much of an influence on them as I can because I'm not going to be here long. When I come back in the future, I want to be able to see my little brothers doing well out there and I want them to then be able to help the next freshmen or redshirt freshmen. The little bit I do know about playing defensive line, I want to lend that knowledge to them so they can do the same thing."
What do you think led to the players adopting you so quickly on this team in a leadership role?
"In my opinion, it's because I was always genuine with them from the start. Even when I wasn't able to practice with them at the beginning of camp, I just let them know that if there was anything I could help them with, I was there to help. Over the years I've seen people come into a program from another Division I program and try to show off and that's one thing that I didn't want to do. I just really tried to be a friend to all of them; that's the easiest way to get to know somebody. My motto is 'If you want a friend be friendly.' When I was able to get on the field, they saw the way I played and they would ask me questions and I would just help them out."
Out on the field, what do you see as your role on the defense?
"This is my defensive line, I'll tell anybody that; even when I got hurt, they were still my defensive line. I'm just an old person on the team trying to help somebody out. I told someone before the fall that even if I didn't play that much this season, that I still wanted to be there for them, regardless. I'm just here to help somebody else out."
How did your previous few seasons at North Texas help make you into the player that you are today?
"My experience helped me out a lot. I remember when I was at North Texas, how much the older players helped out the younger players. Even though they had so much on them, they always tried to make sure that we were good and offered us advice. One of the greatest moments was when the 'big brother' would go and tell a 'little brother' a technique to use in a drill and then see them do it successfully. Being at North Texas really taught me how to be a leader."
What do you like about playing in coach Kane Wommack's defensive scheme?
"It's different. Sometimes I get to play a zero-technique, sometimes I get to play a three, which I'm starting to like more. Sometimes I get to play a four-technique, which is like a defensive end, which is amazing to me because I never thought I would be out there again. There are so many things in his defensive scheme, but it's simplified. It seems like a lot because we are all over the place at times in either a 4-3 or a 4-2-5, but it's all simple and that's the best thing about it."
Did you set any personal goals for yourself this season?
"First of all, I thing I want to really do is become an all-conference player; that's something I haven't really had a chance to do. The second thing on my list was that I wanted people to remember who I was when I left, even though I only had a short time here. I wanted to leave a good impression as who I was as a person, not just as a football player. The third thing is I wanted to try and make our team better in whatever way I can. The final thing was just for us to win. My last goal is the biggest goal to me. All the individual stuff is good, but at the end of the day we have to win and that's the only thing that matters to me."
This season has had several bright spots. What moment or moments have stood out to you?
"I would say the last tackle that I had in the Nicholls State game to stop them in overtime. I only say that one because, I had missed two or three tackle in the backfield earlier in the game that were wide open for me. I looked at coach Turner on the sideline and he had that look of you better make this tackle or else we are going to pull you out. Making that game-winning tackle was amazing.
"The second moment would be the game against Mississippi State and the feeling afterwards. Setting a goal and watching a team know that they were going to win. Being at a smaller school going to play a Power 5 school in that first game of the year, everyone says they are going to win going into that game. To be able to watch us say we are going to win and then go into practice with that same feeling and then go to the game and actually do it was amazing. That was probably one of the best things I've seen in my life."
Earlier this season you suffered an injury. What did it mean to you to battle back and get back on the field?
"It's really a blessing for me to be back out on the field because I really wasn't supposed to be able to come back this season. It meant a lot to me to be able to be out there with my teammates just one more time. Even if I had not been able to get back on the field, I was going to be there for them however I could. I'm just blessed to have another chance to play with these guys because they work so hard. It's an honor to play with them and amazing to just have one more chance to play this game."
What are you wanting to do after your football career is over?
"I actually want to be a reporter or eventually have my own show that gets into recruiting. I find recruiting very interesting. I watch ESPN to try to see who is getting recruited where and why a program is recruiting this player. My undergraduate degree is in converged broadcast media. I like to edit film. I'll probably start working in radio and work my way up.
What are some challenges the defense faces this week at Idaho and what will be some keys?
"We have to stop the pass. From what I've seen, their quarterback is a great quarterback. We have to find a way to pressure him and try to make them one-dimensional. Before we stop the pass, we have to be able to stop the run."
What do you like most about playing on the interior of the defensive line?
"I love the physicality of the position. There is no other position on the field, other than offensive line, where you run into another man every play and expect something great to happen. It's kind of like the definition of insanity. You are doing the same exact thing and expecting a positive result. It's fun for me to play and just a battle the whole time. You grow up real quick playing defensive line."
Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
"My parents of course. Besides them, I would have to say a former teammate of mine, Brandon McCoy. My parents went through a lot raising me; I didn't always make the right decisions growing up, but they were always in my corner. Both my dad and my step-dad taught me some great things. I look up to both of them. My step-mom came later in my life, but she played an important role. She loved me and was always proud of me. My mama is the driving force behind everything. I know I can call her and talk to her anytime about anything. Without them, I wouldn't have even made it to college. To literally have four parents in my life is a blessing.
"There was a point at North Texas where I was very close to being off the team, but Sarge [Brandon McCoy] saw something in me at that time that I guess I didn't see in myself. When I was down, he wouldn't let me stay down. He always stayed on me and I'm eternally grateful for him. There was one time when I thought I wasn't going to be able to play football anymore, but he went and talked to the coach without me knowing. He came back to me and told me not to let him down."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
—USA—
