Wallace Hopes to Grow at UCA

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(Photo by Sheldon Smith) Pulaski Academy safety Aum’Arie Wallace signed with UCA on Wednesday.

Three years ago, Aum’Arie Wallace played football for the first time. Wednesday he signed a scholarship to play at Central Arkansas.

“His upside is huge, since he has only played for three years,” Pulaski Academy coach Kevin Kelley said. “He is just going to keep learning and getting better. I think it is what schools liked about him. I will give him credit. He committed early, and some schools came in on him late, and he stayed committed. He showed a lot of integrity.”

Wallace became one of the better safeties in Arkansas helping the Bruins defense stifle opponents. Wallace earned all-state and All-VYPE Small-School honors.

“I just want to thank my coaches for helping me when I got here. I couldn’t have done it without them,” Wallace said at a signing day ceremony Wednesday.

Since he is still learning the game, Wallace knows has even more of an adjustment to Football Championship Subdivision college football, but  he isn’t worried.

“I just have to get in there and work hard like I have been doing here,” Wallace said.

Wallace visited UCA and Arkansas State but felt the most comfortable in Conway after committing in the fall.

“It’s cliché to call it a family, but it really was,” Wallace said. “The players and coaches were great.”

Bears coach Clint Conque nabbed several notable in-state standouts including Wallace, Jonesboro kicker Luke Ferguson and Bentonville receiver Desmond Smith. The impressive class comes on the heels of UCA advancing two rounds in the FCS Playoffs.

“We have some good linebackers, corners and safeties coming in. The ones that I met on my official visit, I felt real comfortable with them,” Wallace said. “I think we have a good group coming in.”

Wallace looks forward to improving individually and winning. He only lost a handful of games at PA and helped the Bruins to the school’s first-ever undefeated state championship season.

“Leaving (PA) as a state champion and going to (UCA) where they are a playoff team feels real good,” Wallace said. “I know I can get up there and get a chance to win again.”