Two years after breaking both ankles, Cam Wallace got his shot with Penn State — and delivered

Penn State won its first game in 42 days and head coach Matt Campbell finally picked up his first Big Ten win. But none of that was the focus on Saturday.

Instead, redshirt junior running back Cam Wallace earned all the attention. He let out happy tears as the team celebrated him. It was pure jubilation for Wallace, who rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown in the Nittany Lions’ 31-17 win over Purdue.

“It meant everything for real, man,” Wallace said. “Those guys that I see every day at practice, at lunch, breakfast, whatever it may be, and just seeing that those guys [were] behind me through everything I’ve been through.”

On Sept. 21, 2024, Wallace broke both of his ankles in his third collegiate appearance against Kent State. His roommate at the time, fellow redshirt junior tight end Andrew Rappleyea, tore his ACL a week later: “We were crippled in the house,” Rappleyea said Saturday.

But Wallace never wavered on his road to recovery, despite how rare and gruesome his injury was. When asked if there was a moment if he thought he wouldn’t play football again, Wallace was quick to say no.

“I got too much love for this game to have that mindset,” Wallace said. “Every day I come out to work, I’m the same person each and every day, so I knew my time was going to come soon.”

Rappleyea watched Wallace work his way back. There was plenty of time spent on the scout team for the running back, who consistently sat behind two or three other players. He even entered his name in the transfer portal this offseason before opting to stay at Penn State.

Wallace was mostly on the sidelines in the first seven games as the run game struggled to get anything going, especially against Big Ten teams. His last carries before Purdue were in Week 4 against Wisconsin, when he had just two.

» READ MORE: Against Purdue, Penn State earns first Big Ten win in the Matt Campbell Era

“Obviously the running back room has [had] a bunch of changes, different guys getting snaps, and then him just sticking, staying ready, and getting his opportunity,” Rappleyea said. “I told him before the game, I was like, ‘Bro, you’ve been waiting for this. Go out there and do your thing today, bro.’ And I’m just so proud of that kid, man.”

Campbell said Wallace’s opportunity to be a featured back started during the bye week. He called him the “shining star” of that Tuesday’s and Thursday’s practices, and the first-year coach believed Wallace earned the right to play.

So Campbell walked into the training facility last Sunday and told his staff, “[Cam’s] going to play.”

“Cam’s resiliency, who he is, what he’s about, I think that is the spirit we need on our football team and need more of,” Campbell said. “I think it’s been really awesome for him to get rewarded [Saturday] with the game that he had, and I think he’s going to create great momentum for himself going forward.”

Wallace said that resiliency comes from his mother, Toya. She wasn’t at the game, but he knew she’d be crying when he gave her a call later. He laughed at how that was likely going to make him cry too.

Wallace’s tough work ethic also comes from his upbringing. His hometown, Mount Vernon, Georgia, has a population under 2,000 and a median household income of $32,933. Wallace said he draws inspiration from everyone there.

Each time he steps on the field, Wallace says he is playing for them.

“A lot of people don’t make it out where I’m from,” Wallace said. “Just look back at those people back at home, man. They don’t give up, and they’re still going through their struggles back at home. So while I’m here at Penn State, I’m blessed with this opportunity, so why would I give up?”