Let's talk about Iowa State legend Seneca Wallace

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If you ask college football fans of a certain age about former Iowa State QB Seneca Wallace, it's a near-certainty the first thing they bring up is his unbelievable touchdown against Texas Tech in 2002:

The play known as "The Run," is no doubt Wallace's greatest moment in Ames, but it's also far from his only hit. In just two seasons, Wallace became an iconic figure in Iowa State Football history. The Cyclones went 14-12 in 2001-02, with Wallace leading them to back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in 23 years. He had them in the thick of the Big 12 North race, became a legitimate Heisman candidate, and produced a resume that didn't just make him an Iowa State Hall of Famer, but helped put the program in the national spotlight. It's only fitting that he finally gets a proper highlight reel to document what an exceptional player he was:

Wallace's road to college football stardom was unconventional and winding. He played quarterback, kicker, and punter as a senior at Cordova High in Rancho Cordova, CA. Modest numbers earned him first-team all-league honors at QB in the Sierra Valley Conference, and interest from schools like Oregon State, New Mexico, and Hawaii. Despite the lack of attention from larger programs, his head coach Jerry Rieger knew what he had in Wallace - describing him as the best athlete he'd ever coached, and someone who wasn't close to "reaching his athletic potential." Oregon State saw that promise as well, signing Wallace to their 1998 recruiting class as a defensive back.

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While he did wear an Oregon State helmet during 1998 Fall practice, Wallace never played a game for the Beavers. He was ruled ineligible before the season, couldn't officially enroll, and moved back to California. He didn't play at all that year, instead working at the Sacramento airport restocking magazine displays. After a year off, Wallace landed at Sacramento City College. He spent parts of the 1999 season as a starting wide receiver/backup quarterback, before injuries led him to becoming starting QB. By the 2000 season, he was the undisputed starter and never looked back. He led the Panthers to a 9-2 record, throwing for over 3,600 yards and 22 touchdowns, while being named a First-Team JUCO All-American. His play was more than enough to get the attention of Dan McCarney at Iowa State. Wallace transferred to Ames, and by the end of Spring practice was already the No. 1 QB. Little did Big 12 defenses know just how miserable they were about to be playing the Cyclones:

Wallace's dynamic playmaking and the Texas Tech touchdown will always make people remember him as a runner, but what stood out to me most in making this reel were his skills as a passer - particularly on the run. He had an uncanny ability to let it rip while rolling to his left. He wasn't afraid to throw against his body, and almost always showcased perfect technique on passes that even the most seasoned of college quarterbacks couldn't (and wouldn't) attempt:

He didn't have a cannon arm, but his accuracy and touch more than made up for it. This throw against Iowa in 2002 is exactly why he spent ten years as an NFL quarterback, despite the calls for him to switch positions:

Wallace led Iowa State to a 36-31 comeback win over the Hawkeyes after trailing 24-7 at half. He went 23-37 for 361 yards and two total touchdowns, handing Iowa a home loss what would be their only regular season defeat of 2002. All people could talk about afterwards was Wallace - especially this third down throw he made from his own endzone in the fourth quarter:

Do you think Kirk Ferentz –of all people– is handing out these kind of compliments to just anyone?

This isn't to say he was the perfect quarterback by any means, either. He had more than a few stinkers that exposed how raw he was, and just how far Iowa State had to go to become a true Big 12 contender. They were ranked as high as ninth in 2001, before losing six of their final seven to finish 7-7. It could've been better, though, given a botched call in their season opener against Florida State that took a clear Wallace TD off the board in the final seconds:

Is Seneca Wallace one of the greatest college QBs of all-time? No, but he's damn sure one of the most exciting and memorable. He scratched and clawed through different stops and personal setbacks, just for a chance to play the position he loved. Through that hard work, he become an Iowa State legend and a cult-like figure among college football fans. He had an almost decade-long NFL career, becoming exactly what he always told his dad he was going to be:

Fun facts I learned while cutting this reel

• I genuinely had no idea he originally signed to Oregon State as a DB.
• He was once featured on a episode of MTVs True Life, describing what it was like to be a Heisman candidate. I can't find the episode anywhere, unfortunately.
• He set a Big 12 single-game record with 18 consecutive completions against Baylor in 2001.
• Here's Gary Danielson's mid-season scouting report of Wallace in 2002: