RB Deon Wallace

[BirdofParadise]

You can forget about the HOuston QB. We're only going to sign one, and Hundley committed first.

[CajunFan64]

Just took a look at rivals and wallace no longer had us for his verbal commitment. What is up with this, please if anyone has any information, please. We can't lose this guy it said solid verbal a week ago, what is going on?

Concerned

Geaux Cajuns

[Clutch0364]

On rivals it is saying that he never gave a commitment to us. And he got a call from UCLA and he is making a visit soon. It is going to come down to us, Kansas State, and UCLA. This hurts to say but i dont think it looks to good for us right now but hopefully he does chose us.

[DaddyCajun]

Do not think Bustle is going to back off this young man. He called Bustle with a verbal for a reason. Bustel and Wallace know what that reason is, Bustle must be able to sell him on the fact that the reason has not changed. Example: Playing time!! Just look at LA Tech and North Texas. Playing time!!


Hopefully Wallace sees the writing!!
With a bumper crop this past weekend having come thru if we get some more blue chippers(3-4stars) who know's!

DaddyCajun!

[Turbine]

Not worried, some kids love to travel.

Besides this is common occurance in the world of top notch recruiting.

It's not over till they sign.

[DestinCajun]

"It's not over till they sign."

Yeah you right!! Let's keep the faith.

[bigearl]

Originally posted by Turbine
It's not over till they sign.

Very true, but I just hope he signs with us. I think playing time is a big thing with a recruit like Wallace... something we can supply a lot of IMHO.

[CajunCharlie]

If he doesn't sign with us, no big loss!! Anyone who gives you his word and then reneges isn't of much charater. Someone of little character is an indication of trouble down the road.

[RaginEsquire06]

Well stated Cajun Charlie!

[RaisingCajun08]

CajunCharlie .. I understand what you are saying but we have to remember that we are dealing with high school kids. Picking a college for a top recruit is a HUGE decision.

When you were a high school senior, do you think it would be easy for you to make a decision with pressure coming from all directions?

[CajunCharlie]

RC 08, you are absolutely correct in saying that for a top recruit, picking a college is a HUGE decision. I must assume that he visited various schools, and then issued a verbal commitment, which is an indication that he MADE his decision. I must believe that he did give us a verbal commitment. Ricky Bustle would not provide that information unless it were true. For him to now say he did not give a commitment to us causes me to question his character even more!

If he had second thoughts he should have expressed that, rather than saying he never made the decision to commit to us. What is the old adage...."Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we attempt to deceive".

I may be wrong about this young person. If I am I will be the first to admit that. However, until proven wrong,I still believe we are asking for trouble down the road.

[BrockMeaux]

I don't question Wallace's character at all, even if he does leave. He's been nothing but a model citizen, he's a great player, and more importantly, he's been a very good student. Verbal commitments are just that, verbal. There's nothing legally binding about them. If he decides to go to UCLA, I'll be very dissapointed (you know, that whole 'the one that got away' deal), but it won't be the end of the world. I feel like we have a very similar back in Caleb Rubin elligible to play this year off of a redshirt, and while he's not as talented as Wallace, he's comparable.

I think Coach Bustle's job now becomes convincing Wallace that going to a bigger "name" school doesn't assure or even help success after college. Mention all-time NFL yardage leader Brian Mitchell, arguably one of the top 10 QB's in the league in Jake Delhomme, Super Bowl winning WR Brandon Stokley, shut-down corner Charles Tillman, and return man for arguably the best team in football, Ike Taylor of the Steelers, and make him realize that if you have the talent, scouts will find you regardless of where you go, so he should come to a place like UL, where he'll probably immediately be the starter, see lots of playing time without doubt, and be a part of a team that desperately needs a feature back in a conference known for stellar backs (Jamario Thomas and Patrick Cobbs most recently) on a team right on the cusp of rising to the top.

Back to the character issue, like I said, I don't think this shows any kind of bad character. Let's say, for example (totally hypothetical and fictional), that I'm the top WR in the country. I commit to Florida because they're showing a lot of interest and I like the program, but late in the game my dream school, Notre Dame, offers me a full scholarship and a possible starting role. If I take that offer, it doesn't make me a bad person...it's just a case of a kid following his dream. Who knows, Wallace may really want to play at UCLA. But if I decide not to take the offer, just because I considered it doesn't mean that I won't give Florida my absolute 100%, and if Wallace (hopefully) decides that UL really is the place that he wants to be, I suspect that he'll come in and be everything we're expecting him to be. If he goes elsewhere, I wish him good luck and we move on with what we have. No use in crying over spilled milk when I can just clean it up and pour myself another glass.