Jhaaron Wallace – Linebacker – Southern Connecticut State

Alex Khvatov:  How did you wind up at Southern Connecticut State?

Jhaaron Wallace:  I didn’t get the opportunity to play until my senior year of high school.  I took full advantage of it.  I was No. 2 in school history with 143 tackles my senior year.  Some schools came in.  Southern Connecticut was very proactive in recruiting me.  I liked the coaches.

Alex Khvatov:  How come you didn’t play until your senior year of high school?  Did you play other sports?

Jhaaron Wallace:  I ran a little track.  You could say that I was undersized my junior year of high school.  I was a 170-pound middle LB.  Coaches didn’t really trust me to go in there.

Alex Khvatov:  Did you bulk up before your senior year of high school?

Jhaaron Wallace:  I put about 15 pounds of straight muscle.  I was very athletic from track season.

Alex Khvatov:  What other schools showed interest in you?

Jhaaron Wallace:  Merrimack and Assumption were the other schools that showed interest.

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Jhaaron Wallace:  I bring an element of quickness.  I am very quick and athletic.  I am able to get by linemen.  I also have strength and speed.

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Jhaaron Wallace:  I want to improve on everything.  There is room for improvement in all of my game.  I want to get quicker, get my feet better, lateral speed and definitely work on my hips in man coverage.

Alex Khvatov:  Tell us about your career.

Jhaaron Wallace:  I beat out the other linebacker for the starting job as a freshman.  I ended up breaking my arm the last day of camp.  I braced it up and got cleared.  I actually played every single game that year.  I started 9 out of 11 games.  I was freshman All-American my first year.  I did pretty well my sophomore year.  I was second on my team in tackles.  I also broke my hand my junior year.  I did pretty well that year.  I wanted to come back strong this year.  I wanted to get my hands right, so I don’t have any fractures.  I made first team All-Conference this season.  I was the best LB in the conference.  I led my team in tackles.

Alex Khvatov:  What was the highlight of your career?

Jhaaron Wallace:  The highlight for me is we built a brotherhood as a team this season.  Everyone had each other’s back.  We played as a family every game.  The defense was playing fast and getting to the ball.  We came together and played well.

Alex Khvatov:  Who has stood out to you from your American team at the 2018 National Bowl all-star game?

Jhaaron Wallace:  Definitely on offense, RB Eli Parks.  He got over 200 carries this season.  He busted a lot of runs.  He averaged 120 or 130 yards a game.  He was very successful in our run game at Southern Connecticut State.  He made our offense really good.

Alex Khvatov:  Who was the toughest player that you played against in college?

Jhaaron Wallace:  Definitely RB Marc Jones from Gannon.  He was a very good player.  He is a power back, but he has some speed too.  He has very good balance.  You have to wrap him up.  He has good lateral speed and very athletic.

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a LB?

Jhaaron Wallace:  Awareness is the most important trait.  You have to be aware of everything going on.  In the middle of the defense, you have to know what people in front of you and behind you are doing.

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to prove to scouts in general?

Jhaaron Wallace:  I want to show them how athletic I am.  I do play LB, but I am definitely athletic enough to go out and maybe play strong safety or Sam LB.  I can play man coverage.  I want to show them my pass coverage as a LB.  I should have had more picks in my career.  I can rush the passer.