The 10 Most Important Players In 2009: #4

4. A.J. Wallace, CB (Sr.)--Much like fantasy football players used to joke around and say that they were drafting "Fred Taylor's groin" rather than Taylor himself, that is how I feel about A.J. Wallace. His hamstring/groin/whatever is the #4 most important "player" for the 2009 team. Wallace is not only the most talented among the returning defensive backs, but more importantly, he has more game experience than the other three projected starters combined if you added up total number of plays over the last three years. Frankly, Wallace has had so much game experience, it is unfair to say that Penn State is replacing all four defensive back positions. Wallace has played on offense, special teams, as the nickle back, and as a pure cornerback since his freshman year in 2006--but he never seems to be able to stay healthy. The same hamstring injury (now three years in a row) seems to have hampered his speed, quickness, and development so much so that last year Wallace was unable to beat out Lydell Sargeant for the starting right cornerback position, opposite Tony Davis. With four new starters in the seconday, and position battles waging for two of the four, Wallace must be the constant presence, the guy who other teams refuse to throw the ball his way, and most importantly the guy who stays healthy and plays all 12 regular season games and, hopefully, a BCS bowl game.