Chazz Wallace has watched a lot of the YouTube videos showing the work Colorado football players have put in this spring. Then, he got a chance to see some of that work first-hand during a visit to Boulder last week.
That was enough to convince the former Old Dominion defensive tackle that he wants to be a Buffalo.
“I’m a hard-nosed worker and I like to get gritty and dirty and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get better,” said Wallace, who committed to CU earlier this week. “That type of environment is what I actually needed for myself to get to the next level.”
A 6-foot-2, 295-pound defensive tackle, Wallace got a chance to see how CU line coach Sal Sunseri coaches his players and he enjoyed the “big-time atmosphere” at the Buffs’ sold-out spring game last Saturday.
The opportunity to play in a Power 5 conference and be a part of head coach Deion Sanders’ rebuild at CU is what attracted him the most, however.
“I’m very excited and I’m ready to get to work,” he said. “Just the belief that coach Prime has in the program and the city of Boulder is beautiful. It’s something I’ve never seen before and it caught my eye. The belief around the whole program (is exciting) and just starting something new, a fresh start.”
Wallace, who grew up in Maryland, played 23 games during his time at ODU, recording 45 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
A three-star recruit out of high school, Wallace said he learned how to work hard during his time with ODU.
“I do whatever I gotta do to be better the next day,” he said. “Whether that’s being at practice an extra 30 minutes to work on technique, whether that’s being in the film room an extra hour every day, just so I can get better. I’m willing to do anything and I’m committed to being better. That’s what I learned about myself.”
Overall, Wallace spent three years at ODU. He was a true freshman in 2020 when the Monarchs canceled the season because of COVID-19. Although he’s leaving ODU, Wallace said he’s grateful for his time there.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “Old Dominion taught me a lot of things that I will carry with me the rest of my life. It was a good experience and I met a lot of great people.”
One of those people was Deeve Harris, a defensive end and Wallace’s roommate at ODU. Harris also committed to the Buffs this week.
Harris started his career at Minnesota before transferring to ODU in 2021, so he’s experienced Power 5 football. It will be a new experience for Wallace, however.
“It means everything, honestly,” Wallace said. “That’s the highest of the high (level) to be able to compete. You have the facilities to compete, everything you need is there. It means a lot to me.
“I’m just very excited for the opportunity, honestly. I’m ready to capitalize on that and just do whatever I got to do. Just soak it all in, soak all the coaching in, all the weight lifting, everything; the culture. I’m ready to just embrace it all and get to work.”
Notable
Two CU walk-ons put their names in the NCAA transfer portal on Friday: safety Jordan Woolverton and offensive lineman John Ramirez. Neither player appeared in a game with the Buffs.
