Phoenix staff, wire reports

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Zack Wallace has gone from high school standout to college starter.

A Hilldale High School graduate this last spring, the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder will start at strongside linebacker for the Tulsa Hurricane when they start their 2008 season with a Conference-USA game today at 3 p.m. against Alabama-Birmingham at Legion Field.

Wallace is one of three freshmen scheduled to start for the Hurricane. The others include safety DeAundre Brown and wide receiver Damaris Johnson. Corey Jefferis, a walk-on freshman, will be on the kickoff teams.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Wallace registered 136 tackles during the 2007 season, including 31 for a loss, with 10 sacks, 25 quarterback hurries, three caused fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked passes.

Don Hendrix, Wallace’s coach at Hilldale, was obviously happy when he found out Wallace was starting.

“I knew he would have a chance (to start) at some point but I didn’t know if it would be early or as the season progressed,” Hendrix said. “I thought they would redshirt him, but I don’t know the talent level at TU.

“They probably would’ve liked to redshirt him, but he progressed so quick that they couldn’t do it. Gosh, this is really a testimonial to Zack and his work ethic more than anything else. He’s definitely as hard a worker as I’ve been around.”

Wallace steps into a defense that gave up 451.9 yards per game last season as the Hurricane finished the 2007 season at 10-4 overall and 6-2 in C-USA. UAB, coached by Neil Callaway, was 2-10 and 1-7 last season, lost 38-30 to the Hurricane in Tulsa last year in their only other previous meeting.

The Hurricane is 63-44-1 in season openers, including a 35-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe last year.

Offensively, Tulsa led the nation in total offense last year at 543.9 yards per game, finishing ahead of Texas Tech’s 529.6 and Hawaii’s 512.0 yards per game.

David Johnson, a 6-3, 220-pounder, steps in as the starting quarterback and replacing the graduated Paul Smith.

Three TU players earned spots on the C-USA preseason team and they were running back Tarrion Adams, receiver Brennan Marion and defensive end Moton Hopkins.

After today’s game, the Hurricane play at University of North Texas next Saturday. Charley Brown, another Hilldale graduate, plays defensive tackle for UNT.