Rebels’ QB Wallace making progress
OXFORD, Miss. — Bo Wallace’s unpredictable, risktaking style in the pocket made him one of the Southeastern Conference’s most exciting players last season.
These days, the Ole Miss quarterback is a little boring. That’s by design.
The 6- 4, 204-pound junior is coming back from offseason shoulder surgery in January and is now in the late stages of recovery. He was allowed to throw again in May and spends most of his workouts standing still while making 10-, 20- and 30yard throws into a net to strengthen his arm.
It’s repetitive. It’s simple. But he hopes it will make him a better quarterback.
“The f i rst couple months, you wonder if you’ll ever be the same again,” Wallace said. “When you can barely lift your arm, you can’t help but worry. Then you see how it’s getting better and the confidence returns. I can’t wait to get back on the field.”
Wallace played with pain for much of last season after injuring his shoulder against Tulane in September, but still completed nearly 64 percent of his passes for 2,994 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also rushed for 390 yards and eight touchdowns.
Ole Miss finished with a surprisingly successful 7- 6 record, beating Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl in the program’s first postseason trip since 2010.
Wallace was a big reason for success, adding a showman’s touch that i ncluded spectacular completions and perilous runs through the teeth of SEC defenses. But with all that risk-taking came some failures. He had 17 interceptions, including several that left coach Hugh Freeze slapping his forehead.
“He plays the game like he lives his life — with a lot of passion,” Freeze said. “Sometimes that leads to poor decisions. He’ll be the first to tell you that.”
Wallace said the shoulder injury is a sign that he needs to take a few less chances on the field. The recovery time was expected to be four to six months, though Wallace feels he’s a little ahead of schedule.
“I’m going to play with the same instincts. It’s just picking my spots,” Wallace said. “Instead of getting every last yard on a scramble, maybe I get out of bounds after five yards. Get on the turf and live another day.”
Wallace said the recovery has allowed him to focus on his throwing mechanics.
“My release is a lot quicker so I’m getting rid of the ball faster,” Wallace said. “Obviously, it stinks that I didn’t get to go through spring, but if everything comes back the way we think it will, this is going to be a good thing.”
Freeze said Wallace’s work on the field is only part of the path to improvement. Wallace certainly has the moxie and drive of a star quarterback, but Freeze said he can be “nonchalant” with his academic work and social life.
“He’s got a great competitive spirit and people are attracted to that,” Freeze said. “His teammates love to compete with him and that’s important. But there are other parts of leadership.”