A walk-on keys Bama defense

ATLANTA — Football was over for Levi Wallace. Coaches came to see him, but the defensive back told them he had no interest in pursuing the sport after high school.

Being there for his ill father, Walter, was more important. He wanted to pursue other interests. But one person got in the way of those plans — his father.

“You owe it to yourself,” Walter told him. “You’re a great player.”

After a few conversations, Wallace was convinced to give it a shot. But he wasn’t going to play just anywhere. The Tucson, Ariz., native decided to walk-on at powerhouse Alabama, where his father grew up.

Fast forward four years later, and Wallace is one of the feelgood stories of this all-SEC national championship game pitting Alabama against Georgia, a walkon-turned-starter for the Crimson Tide’s top-ranked defense.

Unfortunately, his father has missed almost his entire career. Walter passed away on April 18, 2014, from ALS. Wallace thinks about him “all the time.”

“I want to go out there and play for him,” he said Saturday at Philips Arena, as the two teams met the media. “I want to represent him the right way, keep playing for him, hopefully keep improving.”

He’s come a long way as it is. The 6-foot cornerback was on the scout team for two years before earning a scholarship before last season. After primarily playing on special teams a year ago, he won the starting job this season, and is tied for second on the team with three interceptions and first with 14 pass breakups. His emergence has freed up unanimous All-American defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to play all over the field.

Teammates and coaches alike rave about his toughness and intelligence, his knowledge of coach Nick Saban’s defense, his football instincts and IQ. His nickname, “The Technician,” is self-explanatory.

“I’m not really surprised by the results he’s seen,” Fitzpatrick said. “I always said, he’s somebody that once he gets on the field, he’s going to make an impact, and he really has.”