Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics
Patience Pays Off: Garner Wallace Breaks Through With First Career Start
9/4/2025 10:06:00 AM | Football
By Charlie Spungin, NUSports.com
After Northwestern's 2024 season ended, its exit meetings began. When Assistant Head Coach and Safeties Coach Harlon Barnett sat down with veteran safety Garner Wallace, he told him something every football player wants to hear — he made a promise.
"I told him at the end of last season he should have played more than he did," Barnett said. "I knew what he was and what type of player he is, so I was extremely confident in what he would do."
Over the months leading into the 2025 campaign, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun echoed that sentiment, praising Wallace's growth throughout spring ball and fall camp.
Barnett's promise came true last Saturday at Tulane, when Wallace earned the first start of his career. He delivered a career-high eight tackles and a pass breakup that prevented a touchdown.
"It felt really good to be out there," Wallace said. "I've been here for a while, kind of just waiting my turn. It was really fun to go out there and show everyone what I can do."
Barnett said Wallace's performance on Saturday was exactly what he had shown in practice over the past several weeks and months.
Before the season opener, Wallace had appeared in 26 games for Northwestern, including 11 in 2024. While he saw occasional snaps at safety, his biggest contributions came on special teams.
Now, the Pickerington, Ohio, native has stepped into a larger role in the safety room alongside redshirt junior Robert Fitzgerald and redshirt sophomore Damon Walters.
"Really commend him for the way he's stayed the course," Braun said. "He's one of those guys we talk about — guys blossom at different times in their development. Garner Wallace, over the last year, has really come into his own."
Wallace's path to a breakout game in the Big Easy began in 2022, when he first took the field for Northwestern. He credits his extensive special teams experience with helping him adjust to the speed of the game.
For Tight Ends Coach and Special Teams Coordinator Paul Creighton, Wallace's trajectory is emblematic of the program's developmental approach. It's a common theme for Northwestern.
"It's proof to the messaging that we always give," Creighton said. "Garner was a guy who was developed on special teams. He played hundreds of reps there before he actually got a chance to start on defense, and so when he stepped into a role where he was going to be a primary contributor on defense, he was 100% ready for it."
One of Wallace's most memorable plays came in 2023, when he recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Illinois to help Northwestern secure The Land of Lincoln Trophy with a 45–42 win.
Relatively new to the position — he first played defensive back as a junior in high school — Wallace has emphasized technique as a key focus of his offseason work, including fundamentals such as pad level.
As the years have went on, Wallace has looked up to fellow Wildcat safeties such as an All-American in Brandon Joseph (2019-2021), Rod Heard II (2019-2023), and a two-time captain in Coco Azema (2019-2024) to improve his craft.
With his strong work ethic and ability to learn from older teammates, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound safety said his confidence has grown tremendously since arriving on campus.
"Being here for five years of playing safety, I feel like I've grown a lot and keep feeling more comfortable in that role. I think it's working out pretty well," Wallace said.
As Northwestern prepares for a Friday night matchup with Western Illinois at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, Wallace is sticking to his routine, preparing as if the opponent were the No. 1 team in the nation.
Amid Wallace's rise, Braun said his impact will only grow as the 2025 season continues.
"I'll say this boldly: I think Garner Wallace has an opportunity to have a huge impact, not only on the next game but this entire season," Braun said.
After Northwestern's 2024 season ended, its exit meetings began. When Assistant Head Coach and Safeties Coach Harlon Barnett sat down with veteran safety Garner Wallace, he told him something every football player wants to hear — he made a promise.
"I told him at the end of last season he should have played more than he did," Barnett said. "I knew what he was and what type of player he is, so I was extremely confident in what he would do."
Over the months leading into the 2025 campaign, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun echoed that sentiment, praising Wallace's growth throughout spring ball and fall camp.
Barnett's promise came true last Saturday at Tulane, when Wallace earned the first start of his career. He delivered a career-high eight tackles and a pass breakup that prevented a touchdown.
"It felt really good to be out there," Wallace said. "I've been here for a while, kind of just waiting my turn. It was really fun to go out there and show everyone what I can do."
Barnett said Wallace's performance on Saturday was exactly what he had shown in practice over the past several weeks and months.
Before the season opener, Wallace had appeared in 26 games for Northwestern, including 11 in 2024. While he saw occasional snaps at safety, his biggest contributions came on special teams.
Now, the Pickerington, Ohio, native has stepped into a larger role in the safety room alongside redshirt junior Robert Fitzgerald and redshirt sophomore Damon Walters.
"Really commend him for the way he's stayed the course," Braun said. "He's one of those guys we talk about — guys blossom at different times in their development. Garner Wallace, over the last year, has really come into his own."
Wallace's path to a breakout game in the Big Easy began in 2022, when he first took the field for Northwestern. He credits his extensive special teams experience with helping him adjust to the speed of the game.
For Tight Ends Coach and Special Teams Coordinator Paul Creighton, Wallace's trajectory is emblematic of the program's developmental approach. It's a common theme for Northwestern.
"It's proof to the messaging that we always give," Creighton said. "Garner was a guy who was developed on special teams. He played hundreds of reps there before he actually got a chance to start on defense, and so when he stepped into a role where he was going to be a primary contributor on defense, he was 100% ready for it."
One of Wallace's most memorable plays came in 2023, when he recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Illinois to help Northwestern secure The Land of Lincoln Trophy with a 45–42 win.
Relatively new to the position — he first played defensive back as a junior in high school — Wallace has emphasized technique as a key focus of his offseason work, including fundamentals such as pad level.
As the years have went on, Wallace has looked up to fellow Wildcat safeties such as an All-American in Brandon Joseph (2019-2021), Rod Heard II (2019-2023), and a two-time captain in Coco Azema (2019-2024) to improve his craft.
With his strong work ethic and ability to learn from older teammates, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound safety said his confidence has grown tremendously since arriving on campus.
"Being here for five years of playing safety, I feel like I've grown a lot and keep feeling more comfortable in that role. I think it's working out pretty well," Wallace said.
As Northwestern prepares for a Friday night matchup with Western Illinois at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, Wallace is sticking to his routine, preparing as if the opponent were the No. 1 team in the nation.
Amid Wallace's rise, Braun said his impact will only grow as the 2025 season continues.
"I'll say this boldly: I think Garner Wallace has an opportunity to have a huge impact, not only on the next game but this entire season," Braun said.
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