One of Arkansas’ top remaining prospects, offensive lineman Brian Wallace made a strong impression on his opponent on Saturday.
Wallace and St Louis Christian Brothers College High School took on Jefferson City (Mo.) Helias and another top Hog prospect, junior tight end and defensive end Hale Hentges, whose father Chris is an assistant coach for Helias.
The elder Hentges calls Wallace the best high school offensive tackle he’s seen in a long time.
“Sometimes high schools kids won’t be good at one of the two skills,” Chris Hentges said. “They’ll be a good pass setter but they won’t be a great run blocker. He can do both really well. He’s got such great feet for such a big man and he has such a long reach and he stays pretty balanced. A lot of young kids will get over extended and get out of position. I was most impressed with him.”
Wallace, 6-6, 304, 5.2 seconds in the 40 yard dash and Hentges, 6-4, 225 pounds, 4.83 seconds in the 40-yard dash went up against one another for the entire game.
“It was good battle between those two all game long,” said Chris Hentges. “Hale was able to deflect about 4 passes and get his hands up and have some success there. He did get one sack on him when he was able to get around him. It was just a good battle but Wallace is a heck of a player.”
With Christian Brothers up 9-6 in the closing minutes, Hentges supplied the go ahead points with a late touchdown reception for a 13-9 victory.
“We called a fade route and we put Hale in the slot and they put their best cover guy on him,” said Chris Hentges, who along with Hale visits Arkansas for the Southern Miss game. “They knew what we were doing and went and did it anyway The quarterback put up a great throw and Hale caught it and got one foot down. It was a remarkable catch and a remarkable throw.”
Helias will likely face another Arkansas recruit, quarterback commitment Rafe Peavey of Bolivar, Mo. later in the season.
“That’s looking like a semi-final match up at our place,” said Chris Hentges. “We may have to go on the road but I probably think we’ll get to host that game depending how everything shakes out.”