Timmons has started the first two games at left cornerback this season, but Paterno isn't inclined to divulge whether he or Wallace will take the field first when the fifth-ranked Nittany Lions (2-0) host Temple (0-1) tomorrow afternoon in Beaver Stadium. That might or might not be a ploy, or the situation might must be too close to call. The jockeying for playing time could continue right through the season.
"I think I'm making progress," Wallace said of his nearly 4-year bid to finally become a full-time regular. "Right now, all I know is that me and Knowledge will both get in the game. I'm not sure who will start, but, for myself, I definitely think I'm making progress."
It wasn't supposed to be this difficult for the 6-1, 195-pound Wallace, who was rated as the nation's sixth-best cornerback prospect when he signed with Penn State out of McDonough High in Maryland. He had size, speed and the sort of versatility that allowed the Nits to experiment with him on offense and special teams during his freshman season in 2006, when he averaged 24.2 yards on 16 kickoff returns, rushed eight times for 153 yards and even caught a pass, in addition to seeing time in the secondary.
But Wallace was unable to unseat Lydell Sargeant as the starter in 2007 or '08, in part because of a succession of nagging injuries and in part because of his occasional disinclination to adhere to Paterno's rules.
There was some question as to whether Wallace even would be allowed to rejoin the team after Paterno was informed over the summer of academic irregularities that reportedly involved cutting classes.
