5-Star Football Recruit Anthony Wallace: Who Are His Top Five Choices?

Five-star linebacker Anthony Wallace is one of the top prospects from the state of Texas and has been at the center of a hectic recruiting war for months among some big hitters in the college football world. 

Wallace, ranked as the No. 4 inside linebacker on Rivals and No. 6 at the position on Scout recently returned from an official visit to Oregon, the first official trip he's taken.

Now that he's back, the rumor mill has begun pumping at full speed and speculation is at its best. 

With that note, there's no better time than now to give you the full breakdown of this situation and of course, make some speculations of our own and predict how this will all work out. 

Wallace's Scouting Report and Highlights

Wallace is a perfect fit at middle linebacker. He's got prototypical size for the position and a great natural frame. 

He's a very smart player who can cover both the run and the pass extremely well, but his coverage skills are really what stand out.

Right now his technique is raw, but when he drops back, the instincts are incredible. Watching him get free in pursuit is like watching a predator hunt. He zones in on the ball-carrier and just attacks him.

Wallace is one of those players that is always around the ball. Once he gets bigger, he might end up being the best linebacker from the class.

You can view highlights of Wallace's 2009 season here. 

Where Do Things Stand: Who's In The Top Five?

There has been rampant speculation about Wallace's top choices, but in a recent interview with Scout.com, a unanimous source close to the situation revealed where things stand with the coveted linebacker.

"I would say his top three right now would be Ohio State, Penn State, and Oklahoma," the source said. "Oklahoma is closer to home, but he thinks a lot of Penn State and their linebacker tradition. I think two other teams have an outside shot, Arkansas and Oregon, but not as good as the other three."

Obviously, with Wallace's trip to Oregon this past weekend, it appears the Ducks have moved up a notch or two in his book. As for other official visits, there are plans to visit Ohio State and Penn State, but nothing scheduled yet. 

Wallace has yet to decide where he will go for the remainder of his official visits and is still deciding between Oklahoma, Arkansas, Miami, and USC. 

The Outsiders: How Do Miami and USC Fit In?

But where exactly do Miami and USC enter the picture?

After an unofficial visit to Miami in the summer, Wallace was raving and it looked as though the Hurricanes had separated themselves from the pack. 

“The coaching staff is the best that I’ve met, they’re all real down to earth. They also need middle linebackers, and I like how all the their alumni players come back to the school all the time and support the team.”

But Scout.com's source familiar with the situation shot down that possibility

"I don't think things are going to work out at Miami, and I think that could be over," the source said. 

As for USC, the Trojans appear to be the real outsider in this race as Wallace hasn't made much mention of the school, and based on his recent interviews, the focus is clearly on other suitors. 

The Keys To Victory: What Is Wallace Looking For?

So what exactly is Wallace looking for as he decides where to spend the next four years of his life? We'll give you the words straight from the horse's mouth.

“There are a few things I’m looking for. First is playing time. I want to play as soon as possible so I can win the Dick Butkis award. Also, my position coach is really important to me, I need to make sure he can make me better and make me the best that I can be.

"Also, the players around me are real important because I can’t do it all myself. I want to go somewhere that has a monster d-line in front of me, because that’s where the game is won defensively."

It should also be noted that Wallace appears to be heavily interested in education as well. Before and after his visit to Oregon, Wallace made note of their sports management program on multiple occasions. 

Predicting Wallace's Decision

While we believed that Ohio State, Penn State, and Oklahoma were Wallace's top three choices earlier this month, his trip to Oregon has altered that belief. 

Oklahoma has the look of a school that's slipping in this one, and Oregon seemed primed to take its place in the top three.

The focus has long been on the pair of Big Ten rivals courting Wallace though. 

Penn State and Ohio State both have such rich traditions of football and development, particularly when it comes to linebackers. 

Ohio State entered the mix late, but have been making up a ton of ground by aggressively pursuing Wallace daily and that's where the good money's at right now.

As Wallace said in August, “they’re one of the teams that I grew up watching on T.V. They have a ton of tradition and they are definitely a linebacker U school."