Former North Ballarat Rooster Eric Wallace has again proved himself a sporting maverick, this time by signing with NFL club the Carolina Panthers.
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The ex-college basketballer from North Carolina gained the attention of the Australian football community in 2012 after impressing at the AFL Draft Combine, where he was picked up as a rookie by North Melbourne.
The 198 centimetre athlete spent three years trying his hand at the Australian game, playing as North Ballarat’s number one ruckman in the 2014 VFL season before moving to Werribee.
Former coach Gerald Fitzgerald said Wallace was an extremely powerful athlete whose physical attributes would suit his role as a tight end for the Panthers.
“When he arrived he was a very competent basketballer and we saw him improve dramatically, but to take another step and learn another completely new skill set says a lot about his character,” Fitzgerald said.
“He was a really courageous fella to embark on a career and lifestyle change and come to Australia.”