A.J. Wallace Gets Army Bowl Invite at Pentagon

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 14, 2005) --- A.J. Wallace visited the Pentagon today, but it wasn’t to visit his father who works there. As his parents, Anton and Deidre Wallace, looked on Army Vice Chief of Staff Richard Cody officially invited the Maurice J. McDonough High School stand-out to play in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio’s Alamodome.

The classic East vs. West match-up will be played and televised live on NBC January 7th at 12:00 p.m. (CST) and will feature the top 78 prep football student-athletes in the country.

A.J. Wallace is the #9 ranked cornerback in the country by Scout.com. he is a member of the National Hot 100 as well as the East Hot 100. At 6-1 and 195 pounds with reported 4.4 speed, Wallace has the versatility to play several positions on the next level, but we project him at corner.

He was a star in all phases of the game as a junior at Maurice J McDonough High School where he rushed for 1,367 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also added 12 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Wallace picked off three passes and deflected 17 others, while also racking up 65 tackles. He also had three punt return scores.

“Versatility is the name of the game for Wallace who could play a wide variety of positions in college,” according to Miller Safrit, Scout.com's East Scout.

Wallace currently lists Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State and Oklahoma amongst his favorites, and he has already taken a visit to Ohio State and has a visit to Nebraska set up for October. 

"It is a great pleasure to have this fine young man selected to represent his school and community as a U.S. Army All-American," said Colonel Thomas Nickerson, Director of Strategic Outreach for the U.S. Army Accessions Command. "He has proven himself to be a superior athlete who, like our Soldiers, takes pride in making a difference and turning in outstanding performances. 

“Our slogan, 'An Army of One,' recognizes the strength of the individual in achieving team goals. A.J. demonstrates how football, like the Army, makes you a stronger person not just for today, but into the future. A national audience will see this when he takes the field in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl," said Col. Nickerson.

Wallace is a standout defensive back at Maurice J. McDonough High School and was one of 400 players nominated nationally and one of 78 selected to participate by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee.

Also given out at the U.S. Army All-American Awards Dinner will be the Walter Payton Trophy. This award will be bestowed upon the nation’s fastest, strongest and most dedicated high school football player. The trophy presented to the winner is set in the likeness of the Hall of Famer and NFL Great.

The winning team of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl will receive the Herman Boone Trophy named after the legendary Virginia high school football coach who was immortalized in the Disney feature film, Remember the Titans. The game MVP will receive the Pete Dawkins MVP Trophy, named after 1958 Heisman Trophy winner, Brigadier General (retired) Pete Dawkins.