Fall Camp Update Interview with 6A All-State 2019 Arkansas RB Zak Wallace

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

With any great story, there is a build up to an exciting-dramatic moment in time with a big payoff that resonates with the audience and is remember in the hearts and minds going forward. There is a buildup with Class of 2019 Benton High School running back Zak Wallace that promises for a payoff above and beyond the Arkansas 6A All-State season he turned in a year ago. What may come for the all-purpose back… well, that is why we wait and watch with great anticipation.

All 6-0, 200-pounds, of Wallace was in full-force in 2017 mixing the run with speed and power while weakening defenses with his ability to haul in passes out of the backfield. College coaches that became aware of the Panthers standout took notice. In stats posted through nine games of his junior campaign, Wallace carried the rock 171 times for 1,260 yards with 17 trips to the end zone. In the aerial attack, he snagged 23 passes for 156 yards with another score going up on the board.

Entering his senior season, Wallace has six offers on the table from Tennessee-Martin, Southeast Missouri State, Missouri Western, Ouachita Baptist, Arkansas Tech, and Army. Interest in Wallace’s ability to win ball games at the collegiate level is growing with in-state powers Arkansas, Central Arkansas, and Arkansas State watching along with Sam Houston State and Louisiana Tech. All sets up to be a thrilling season for Wallace seeing how far he can carry the Benton rushing attack with more offers sure to follow.

In a Recruiting News Guru catch-up interview, I sat down with the widely overlooked Arkansas product for an update on his offseason workouts, fall camp with Benton, and his recruiting process thus far.

Interview

Zak, how did your offseason workouts go?

“They went really well. I put on 10 pounds this offseason and dropped my 40 time to a 4.5. We worked out four days a week and had a competition day that involved workouts to make us stronger. I increased all my maxes this offseason.”

What did you max out in the weight room?

“My bench is 340, squat 435, and my power clean is 285.”

Very nice. What were the focus of your workouts to improve your skills as a running back?

“We did a lot of work developing our hips. If you do not have hips you are not agile; getting low on power clean helps with that. I also did hurdles to work on my hips. We did 7v7 drills in the morning to work on catching as well.”

Where are you seeing the biggest growth in your abilities as a running back during fall camp?

“I am seeing the biggest growth with my speed, power, and explosiveness. I have been trucking people and breaking arm tackles. I want to carry that onto the season to get to that 2,000-yard mark.”

When did the Panthers start fall camp?

“We started on July 30, that was our first day of fall camp.”

What are practices like for you guys?

“We start off with warm-ups then we split up in position groups. We do a lot of drill work and then come together for 7v7, No. 1 offense vs. No. 1 defense. Then we do special teams and then we do 11v11. We do competitions every other day. We do stuff like a third down and 6-yards to go for the first down. The offense has one play to get the first down. I can’t lie, the defense got us today.”

You are an All-State running back, what you guys are doing is working, but will we see any new wrinkles to how the coaches are feeding you the rock this season?

“Not really. We are doing some of the same stuff we did last year, but that was a tad bit new then. We have at wo-back set with one of my teammates D’Anthony Harper (2020). He is a finesse runner, he is a juking back; we are a good mix.”

Are you playing any other positions?

“I will line up some at slot, some during our empty set. We did that last year but not that much. I will be in the Wildcat too, we did that last year too. We put the Wildcat in today.”

Did you attend any camps over the offseason?

“Yes, sir. I went to the Natural State Elite Camp, all the Arkansas schools were there, and a UAPB camp – UTM (Tennessee-Martin), Texas Southern and Murray State were there.”

Which schools are showing interest in you?

“Arkansas State, Razorbacks, UCA, Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston State.”

Which schools have offered you?

“UTM, Missouri Western, OBU (Ouachita Baptist), Army, Arkansas Tech, and Southeast Missouri State.”

Did you get to visit any schools during the offseason?

“Yes, sir. I visited Memphis, SEMO, UTM, OBU, Missouri Western, and Sam Houston State.”

Do you have any planned visits upcoming?

“Nothing is set yet. I want to take officials visits to OBU and UTM.”

Turning to the 2018 season. The Panthers open the 2018 season against area rival Bryant, for those that have never attended a Salt Bowl, what is the game like?

“It… it is like a D-I football game. There are 40,000 people are there. We play at War Memorial Stadium; the Hogs play there. It is packed. It is competitive and crazy.”

What are some other games on the schedule you are excited to play this season?

“Greenwood and El Dorado. Those two games should be big games for us. We messed up against El Dorado last season, we are looking for revenge. We play Greenwood there, they have a long winning streak at home we would like to be the ones to break it.”

What will be the strengths of the Panthers team in 2018?

“Our senior leadership. Our coach has talked to us about that. We did some team bonding over the summer. We went to the Family Farm to do some team bonding. I hung out with players I did not know that well and got to know them. We are together as a team. We feel that will take us a long way this year.”

Do you have a preseason message for all the teams on the Panthers’ schedule?

“We are coming hard. We are coming harder than last year. We lost some nail-biters last year, but we will finish this year. We have been busting our butts. Toughness is a focus of ours, we will come out ready to play.”

What goals have you set for yourself throughout your senior year?

“Be better than my junior year. I had a pretty good junior year, but I don’t want it to be pretty good this year, I want it to be great. I wanted 2,000 yards last year but came up short. I want us to win the Salt Bowl and bring home a state championship.”

Zak, always great catching up with you. Thanks for your time today and good luck with the upcoming season.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: hudl.com; No. 23 Zak Wallace (2017)

Photo credit: Wallace family; Zak Wallace 2018 preseason