It turns out Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace wasn't fibbing at Friday's media day.
“I feel as good as I’ve ever felt except the first year coming in," Wallace said. "I feel 100 percent. Throwing the ball, I can push the ball down the field more. I’m anxious to get out there and start.”
After just a few practices the early results are in on the healthy, beefed up Wallace, and it's fair to say the coaches like what they see.
"It's like two different players," co-offensive coordinator Dan Werner said of the new and improved Wallace versus last year's version. "He's so far ahead. The key is making it all the way through the season. Last year at this time he was barely coming off rehab. Now, he's not only done with all that, he's worked it to get his normal strength, and maybe even then some. He's gained some weight, gotten bigger and he's excited. He can't wait for the season."
Hugh Freeze noticed the difference on Saturday.
"He's overthrown two streaks," Freeze said. "We never had that problem before. His arm's definitely stronger right now."
This is the best news to come out of practice in the early going. The pass-heavy Ole Miss offense will be leaning hard on the arm of Wallace as the Rebels try to make a run at the SEC West.
All the talk in the off-season about Wallace's weaker arm last year causes some to forget that the quarterback still threw for 3,346 yards and 18 touchdowns, which was 2nd only to Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel. Wallace is one great year away from being at the top of the Ole Miss record-books in many quarterbacking categories. With two years of experience, and the wisdom that comes with, that stronger arm should help Wallace accomplish some big things this fall, not least of which should be to lead the Rebels on a big run through the SEC West.
Wallace may even make some of those media members regret those 3rd Team All-SEC votes at media days, that placed Wallace behind Auburn's Nick Marshall (1st Team) and Dak Prescott (2nd Team).
“All the hype and things people can say is over now," Wallace said. "It’s time to play football. We’ll find out at the end of the year who makes what.”
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