D’Akibba Wallace | Western New Mexico | OLB/DE
Instagram: @wallacebahamas
Q:Tell us about your sports career and what the recruitment/scouting process was like?
A: My journey up until this point has been full of ups and downs. I was first recruited out of high school to play Tight End for Northern Arizona University after being an All-City selection at Westchester High School, CA. I redshirted there and ended up bouncing back to Santa Monica College, a JUCO. I was being recruited by Cal Berkeley before my 2nd year there, until my school informed me I was 1 non-academic credit away from being eligible for the season and there was no way to get it. After losing my season, I came back the next year, became an all-conference selection, and fielded 10+ Division II scholarships, where I decided to go to Western New Mexico due to the tough schedule and closeness to home. I have always been scouted as a dual threat athlete that has no problem playing both sides of the field, but can dominate when I can move around in defensive formation and get after the QB. My coverage abilities improved as I worked extensively on my body.
Q: Did you play in college and if so, who did you play for? What was your experience like?
A: I played for 3 schools and almost played for a 4th. I played for Northern Arizona University, Santa Monica College, and Western New Mexico University. I played Tight end for NAU and one year at SMC. I was OK at the position. My football career changed when I went to defense full time at SMC and my head coach, Kelly Ledwith, allowed me to play OLB with freedom to cover and call plays. We were dominate on that side of the ball and I was able to use my quickness, physical play, and IQ flow through the games and we stopped a lot of high-powered offenses, one of them feature Marquis “Hollywood” Brown. 3 out of the 4 linebackers, including myself, earned All-Conference recognition. I left to WNMU and that was the worst experience for me. I was recruited with the understanding that I would be playing OLB and play a similar role to the one I played at SMC. Instead, my newly hired Head Coach, Coach Tristian decided to play me at DE. I weighed 195-200 pounds at that time and simply could not play that position in the Lone Star Conference and the D1 opponents. However, I still made an impact whenever I was placed in that position, until double and triple teams began to flow my way. I do wish my overall experience was better.
Q: What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your sports career so far?
A: I would say earning my All-Conference honors in JUCO after playing 8 games with a separated shoulder and only missing one game that season.
Q: What do you consider to be one of the more important things you have learned from you coach(es).
A: My coach/mentor and NCAA legend Tony Sands would always bring the team up before breaking out for the rest of the day and on this day, he was more emotional than normal. He told us that he did not like the energy for the group as a whole and that if we did not pick up our entire mentality about the little things, we were going to lose by a lot in our first game. It is the little things; your diet, your energy in the weight room, class room, and field, and what you do when no one is watching, that turn you into a champion. There is so much work that must be done in order to be great and have continued greatness at that. This is a commitment, a lifestyle. The men and women that have earned a spot in the NFL, CFL, etc, did not get there by accident. I must do the little things to be great. I intend on being a Hall of Fame athlete, so there is no negotiation with that for me.
Q: What would your current/past say about you and your qualities?
A: A couple things for certain, they would say that I absolutely love this game and would give anything to play it. I am a gamer and I do not back down from anyone, I do not care where you played or what you have done. I am giving my everything into every rep and I expect the same from teammates. My teammates have always looked at me as a playmaker and I do feel I have delivered on that. I am natural leader and lead by example and play on the field. I am extremely passionate and hyper competitive, haha a few, if not all of teammates can confirm that. I have A LOT of energy and my teammates know me as huge hype man, because I know when I get them going, it’s very hard to beat us, and that is on any team I have been on. Im a ball player to my core.
Q: What has been one of the most memorable plays of your career at any level?
A: It brings me great joy to sack a QB, but I also love putting people on their heads. I was able to do both in one game at the Juco level playing against Moorpark College. I was able to disguise my blitz well enough that the QB had no idea I was creeping up to the line. As soon as he completed his 5 step drop back, he was getting spun into the dirt by me. The next drive, they tried a RB Draw and I saw right though it. I played both men and right when the QB handed the ball off, I wrapped the RB up and literally dropped him on his head. Definitely one of my favorite games. I also had 3 TFLs and a fumble recovery game with very limited snaps against Angelo State when I played at WNMU.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge and how do you manage it?
A: The biggest challenge was not only fracturing my back in 3 places right before my senior year in 2019, relearning how to walk and using the entire 2020 year to regain my strength and become stronger than I ever was, but having to also deal with the NCAA not allowing me to play at a school in Florida due to its outdated and ridiculous bylaws. I felt like my chance to prove I am one of the best defensive players in the country was completely robbed from me, all because I did not want to continue my career in New Mexico. I had to deal with this in my JUCO days, but this really stung, because of the massive opportunity to play under Chris Chambers and excellent coaches I was with, but because I had put in endless work and I saw the fruits of my labor during Fall Camp 2021. I was unstoppable. This has added so much fuel to my gut though. It had been almost a two years since I put pads on and when I did, it solidified my belief. The belief that I can make an impact at a very high level, that level being the National Football League. This challenge fueled my faith and my strength to keep going. I cannot wait to prove that I am special player.
Q: Who was the best player you played against anytime during your career?
A: I would have to say my dear friend and former teammates, Jake Casteel. An All-Conference player out of Salpointe HS, AZ, he was not the biggest dude, but he had fire and was all over the field. I had a couple run ins with him while I was playing TE and we would go back in forth in team play and 1 on 1s. He ended becoming one of NAU’s all time tacklers and lead the team to the playoffs a few times. He is now a graduate assistant at West Virginia University.
Q: If you could compare yourself to any pro athlete, who would that be and why?
A: I would say Isaiah Simmons, OLB for the Arizona Cardinals. I say that because we share a similar skillset in the way that we are both relentless getting after the QB and have high IQs; I know where everyone is on the field at all times. While he has about 10 pounds on me as of right now, we are both 6’4 and lanky, making for a very difficult match up for anyone really. The ability to play any position on defense is what I pride myself on and I am extremely good at it, just as he as at Clemson and doing it for the Cardinals. I look to provide a similar skill set.
Q: What is your biggest strength that you bring to a professional team and why should pro scouts consider you?
A: My will to never give up, never give in. I have been through hell and back to put it simply with my football career up to this point and I just refuse to quit. The money, fame, everything that comes with playing pro ball is very minimal to me. I want to play football, period. I have supported myself, whether it be by working at grocery stores to pay for football equipment and training before and after my shifts, to now working from home, so that I could fully give my body to the game, I want it to be known that I love this game and will do anything and everything I have to do the best to do it and be reliable at all times for my teammates. My faith in God is also a major contributor this persistence, as he has allowed me to bounce back from injury, heartbreak, and so much more, and just come back so much stronger, wiser, and overall grateful for everything he has done, good or bad. My biggest strength? I am unbreakable and my faith in my ability is unwavering.
Q: Are you involved in mentoring, a charity or do you “give back” or “pay it forward” in your community?
A: At every state I have been in, I have always been involved with community and tried to make a positive impact. When I was at NAU, I would go to a Christian ministry to help and feed the homeless on the weekends. In SMC, I worked community events and would sometimes be a life guard for kids during the season. At WNMU, I volunteered at Jose Barrios Elementary School to read to the kids, help with homework, and play outside during lunch and nutrition. Since moving to Florida and attending the University of Fort Lauderdale, I have helped with a couple food drives at the school and in my neighborhood. This will always be an important aspect of my life and has helped me grow so much in numerous standpoints.
Q: What do you enjoy doing when not playing football?
A: One thing about me; I love being outside. Nature has been a friend of mine at a very young age and growing up in Los Angeles, California, you practically have it all. From the ocean, the numerous forests and hiking trails, to the desert and even the snow in Big Bear, if it is a nice day, I am going outside and enjoying the sun. I also love animals and have had a variety of pets. Dogs, cats, bunnies, endless amounts of fish, a turtle, the whole 9. When I was living in New Mexico, my roommate had a blue nose pitbull and he basically turned into my dog. He would workout with me, I trained for a couple months, and he was really like a mini me, it was great. I also love sneakers and looking for hard to get kicks. You can never go wrong with a pair of fresh kicks.
Q: If you could make a positive impact on all of society what would it be and why?
A: I would stop all of the divide that we have in this country and then around the world. Growing up in inner city LA, I have seen all types of violence. This may not have had a detrimental effect on me, but the next generations should not have to deal with severe hate and separation. What do we gain from fighting and hurting each other? From believing one race is better than the other, when in fact we are ALL human? Being part of sports teams basically all of my life, I see immense value in combining talents, minds, and wills, and coming out better because of the uniformity. Of course, there are disagreements, different perspectives
Q: Who is and has been the most influential person in your life?
A: Easily my mother. She came to the USA at the age of 17 from El Salvador. It took her almost 3 weeks for her and my grandpa to make it to Texas and then another couple of days to get to New York, where she met my dad. She graduated with a degree from NYU. Her story is nothing short of amazing and she is the main reason I have not given up playing football at the highest level. If she can risk her entire life for the American Dream, I can do the same in my own respect and pay it back to her. All of her sacrifices and hard work, as her youngest child, I would love to pay it forward.
Q: If you had the opportunity to play another sport professionally, what sport would you choose?
A: I would say Basketball.
Q: What is your dream job?
A: Playing OLB for the New York Football Giants.
