Among skill position players on the offensive side of the ball, the tight end is often the most involved from a blocking standpoint.
Being the biggest receiver on a team means a tight end can act as an additional offensive lineman, but those players can also dominate down the field when open.
Brockman Wallace was that piece for Towson football during his first few seasons with the program, serving as a tight end and fullback.
However, Wallace initiated a switch to the defensive line when new head coach Pete Shinnick came aboard this offseason.
“That was something I wanted to do from the jump,” Wallace said. “I wanted to go back to the defense. I felt like it would be something that I would excel in more. … I feel like I’ve played well this season. I’ve gotten down more plays and I’m just playing well, playing better overall.”
Coming into college, the 6-foot-2, 270-pound lineman was no stranger to defense, but his size made him a perfect hybrid option for the Tigers to utilize offensively. Wallace played 16 games at fullback and tight end for the Tigers in 2021 and 2022, but something had to give.
What better time for a change than with a new coaching staff? Shinnick and his assistants bought in.
“Last year’s team used him as that wing fullback kind of guy, so you get a lot of that initial pop and hand work that you need to have to be a successful defensive lineman,” Shinnick said. “When we got here, Brock talked about that as a possible opportunity, and what we do defensively, we thought he would be a great fit.”
Wallace didn’t even introduce himself as an offensive player initially, saying he was a defensive lineman in his first conversations. While the position switch presented some challenges, it was nothing that the graduate student from Marshall, Va., couldn’t handle.
“In high school, I was the Mike linebacker after I transferred and then as a senior, I played some linebacker, but I transitioned over to D-line because I was one of the bigger guys on the team,” Wallace said. “… D-line just feels way more natural to me. In high school, I felt like I was better at playing defense, so me coming back was just me doing something I wanted to do again.”
One of the biggest things that Wallace had to work on back in the spring when he began practicing at the position was his hand placement when engaging offensive linemen.
The difference between preventing players from getting to the ball and trying to get to the ball-carrier or quarterback in the backfield required a new set of skills that he was eager to learn.
“From Day One, he’s gotten better through the entire process,” Shinnick said. “I’m very pleased with the move and I’m very pleased with how he’s doing. … He fits what we’re looking for in a defensive lineman. The fact that there was some correlation makes it easier.”
Wallace talked at length about how much he has put into his hand work, and he has been really happy with his progress so far. And that progress has translated into game action. He has recorded 10 tackles and one sack entering the Tigers’ game at William & Mary on Oct. 21.
While those numbers might not rival some of the best in the Colonial Athletic Association, he is laying the groundwork for what he hopes will be plenty of success throughout conference play.
“I think I’ve done well for the time that I’ve had on defense, but there’s always room to improve,” Wallace said.
That same sentiment can be said for Towson’s entire team. The Tigers are 2-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play heading into their game against the Tribe. Towson is allowing 31 points and 396.8 yards of offense per game through six contests. Those marks rank 13th and 10th in the 15-team CAA, respectively.
Wallace and the rest of the Tigers are looking to get better in all aspects of the game as the season wears on.
“I think [Wallace] along with everyone on our team, I would like to see them be a little bit more consistent in what we’re doing and how we’re doing it,” Shinnick said.
Photo Credit: ENP Photography
Issue 283: October/November 2023
Originally published Oct. 18, 2023