Tristen Wallace — with an Ohio State shirt, shorts and cleats swallowing up his powerful 6-foot-3, 228-pound frame — gathered the snap, turned his body to the right and fired a whistling strike to his receiver.
The wide receiver, an individual not as blessed with the sheer size and talent as Wallace, saw the football slip through his hands above his head and tumble out of bounds into the feet of the various media and family members watching camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center Friday.
The pass was a tad high, but should have been caught to complete the out route. But Wallace, unfazed and determined to deliver a better ball, demanded another snap and blazed the football perfectly in stride to the next receiver in line.
Future Ohio State quarterbacks Tristen Wallace (2016) and Danny Clark (2017) working at camp today: pic.twitter.com/DMEaWKvaZz
— Eric Seger (@EricSeger33) June 19, 2015
"I don't want the easy route," Wallace said just outside the doors at the WHAC, still sporting those cleats and other Buckeye gear.
The series of throws is a microcosm of Wallace's mindset as he heads into what on paper looks to be an extremely crowded Ohio State quarterback room as a four-star recruit in the class of 2016 — if it isn't perfect, so be it. He's here to get better.
"People may have their doubts, may have their opinions about me coming here with the quarterback situation — it's not a big deal," Wallace said. "It's how you approach it. And I'm going to soak everything up like a sponge and learn and just be the best I can be."
Without even thinking about the imminent quarterback conundrum Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and quarterbacks coach Tim Beck have on their plates for the 2015 season — with Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones all back — Wallace is aware of how much talent figures to be at the position when he arrives in Columbus next summer.
Miller's eligibility will be exhausted after this season, but both Barrett and Jones in addition to Stephen Collier can return to Ohio State if they so choose for 2016. The chances Jones turns pro are high, but even if he departs, Barrett, Collier and 2015 commits Torrance Gibson and Joe Burrow will have to scoot over in the quarterback room to make room for Wallace.
"I just gotta work hard every day and try to soak everything up like a sponge from those guys because I can learn from my future brothers," Wallace said. "Like J.T. and Braxton and Cardale, they all been in the fire and that's the point that I'm trying to get to."
Barrett is from Texas just like Wallace, who hails from DeSoto High School, like current Buckeye Dontre Wilson. Wallace said he's spoken with Barrett most because of their ties to The Lone Star State, but Miller hasn't been shy either even though he'll be gone after this season.
That's what I want to do, I want to outwork everybody in the country, every school. That's why I came here."– 2016 Ohio State QB Commit Tristen Wallace
"He talked to me about transition and the dorms, freshmen, campus life. All types of college stuff," Wallace said of Miller. "We have a pretty good relationship."
Wallace certainly looks the part with his solid frame, much like 2017 commit and left-hander Danny Clark, who also worked out Friday.
"It felt great to be out there," Wallace said of working with Clark. "He's like my little brother because he's 2017, he teaches me stuff, I learn from him, he learns from me. It goes both ways."
The constant influx of quarterback talent at Ohio State is staggering, but what could be more mind-boggling is how each player seems content with competing with one another for playing time. And if they lose out on the job, their support for the others will remain.
It's one of the main reasons Wallace was drawn to Ohio State all the way from Texas.
"The work ethic. Ohio State is no doubt the hardest working university in the country right now. There's no doubt about that," Wallace said. "That's what I want. I want the challenge."
He'll get that challenge each time he's on campus, and Wallace said his April commitment officially ended his recruitment. Ohio State is the place for him.
"You get the best in coaching with Urban Meyer and then again they work hard. That's what I want to do, I want to outwork everybody in the country, every school," Wallace said. "That's why I came here."
He's the lone quarterback Ohio State will take for 2016, a pressure that comes with plenty of responsibility.
Just like that one off throw Friday and the imminent competition at the position, however, Wallace is undaunted.
"They always say to whom much is given, much is tested so I guess I just gotta work even harder and just stay at it," Wallace said. "Stay hungry."
