Wallace is More Than a Football Player; He is a Mentor

When true freshman Andrew Booth punched a Louisville defender following a punt in Saturday's game against the Cardinals, the entire team was disappointed in his actions. But none more than safety K'Von Wallace, who sees himself as a mentor to the true freshman cornerback.

CLEMSON—When true freshman Andrew Booth punched a Louisville defender following a punt in Saturday's game against the Cardinals, the entire team was disappointed in his actions. 

But none more than safety K'Von Wallace, who sees himself as a mentor to the true freshman cornerback.

"All of the seniors was upset, me especially because me and Booth are very similar, especially how we came in," Wallace said. "He playing as a true freshman, I was playing as a true freshman. A lot of similarities, how his attitude was and how mine was. I talked to him personally, just tell him to stay the course, even before the game. A lot of things go on in people’s lives that we don’t know about, and a lot of times we use football to express our anger. Sometimes that can get ahead of us. 

"Me being a leader, it’s already been handled. And we’re going to continue to get better. I promise you it won’t happen again. With Andrew Booth being Andrew Booth, just harping on him to be himself. Don’t try to be somebody you’re not. Don’t try to do too much. Just live for the moment and always know your time is coming."

Head coach Dabo Swinney also stated that Booth has served his punishment and would be eligible to play in the second half of Saturday's homecoming game against Boston College.

"(Wallace) is a great leader. Those comments don't surprise me. He tried to deflect some things to him," Swinney said. "He is a captain for us this week, as a matter of fact. He has matured and grown and he works really hard. He takes care of his body and studies the game. He has grown into a heck of a player and has become a great leader. I thought the team did a great job of handling Andrew. And Andrew is embarrassed. That is unacceptable. He's a great kid and had a bad moment.

"He'll sit for a half but he'll be ready to go in the second half and will play. He wore his suit and tie on the bus ride back home. Andrew is one of the best kids we have on the team. Never had a problem with him. He suffered the consequences and we will move on."

Upon Booth's arrival on campus, Wallace immediately sought out the highly touted corner because he saw something in the young man that reminded him of himself—a younger, more immature version of the man he is now.

"When he first got here I saw a lot of similarities with me and him and where we came from. I took him under my wing right away," Wallace said. "I feel like that was my fault what happened. I took that on the chin because that’s a reflection of my leadership and I have to do a better job with my leadership to better lead.

"The upbringing, the way he grew up. He coming in and has to prove himself. He wasn’t a guy that came in and had a starting position right away. He had to fight for everything he earned. Just talking to him and seeing the attitude he brings to the game, that aggressiveness, that physicality. The same thing I had as a true freshman. A lot of times guys don’t get that as a true freshman. A lot of times guys lack confidence and he doesn’t lack confidence at all. So that’s why I see a lot of similarities."

The challenge for a young player, who was dominant in high school and the big fish in a small pond, is that depth charts are often set in advance of their arrival on campus—something that Wallace understands all too well.

In his freshman year, Wallace played in all 15 of the Tigers' games but only for 109 total snaps and amassed only six total tackles and one interception.

The next three season's, Wallace has accounted for 107 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles—meaning, he understands what it means to have patience and trust in the process.

"I have conversations like that with all the guys," Wallace said. "Sometimes the starting positions are picked before they even get there. They know how the process goes sometimes. It’s hard to get through that process as a true freshman because you come in, especially if your highly recruited, you come in and you want to play. 

"You’ve got a lot of family counting on you to do well. You know everybody wants a jump start on their career. Everybody wants a jump start on being drafted one day. You don’t come to a college like this not to play well and not to play right away. Those guys are going to be great players. Trust me. They’re going to be sitting right in these (interview) chairs."