HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Brendan Wallace '25 wasn't ready to give up football three years ago, and Hampden-Sydney gave him the opportunity to continue playing the sport he loved. On the second day of football camp during his first year with the program in 2021, Brendan recalls one of the Tigers' team captains, Brendan Weinberg '22, making an impression on him that he still remembers well.  

"We had a team meeting with about 120 people," explained Brendan. "He (Weinberg) already knew the name of every single person in the room. That just showed how much he really cared about everybody. He was the most selfless guy, a great teammate and a great leader. He wasn't the most vocal guy, but he led by example."

Weinberg's display of leadership and humanity that day is still an example that Brendan follows all these years later. Today, the Virginia Beach native is serving as a fourth-year team member and first-year team captain; trying to emulate those leadership skills that so impressed him as he embarked upon his own journey at the College.

Brendan was raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and grew up with sports having a big role in his family. His older brother, Cameron, played baseball at Christopher Newport University (2020-23) and his younger sister, Olivia, currently plays field hockey at The Ohio State University. Brendan played football, baseball, basketball and soccer as a youth, wrestling for a while, too, before focusing on football over his final three years of high school.

Brendan Wallace arrived on the Hill after missing his senior year of high school football due to an injury, a year also affected by COVID-19 that canceled the traditional 2020 fall season in what turned into a limited 2021 spring season. Brendan's injury occurred that fall and resulted in him not playing the following spring, either … the time away from playing while he was recovering and rehabbing his injury made him realize how much he would miss the sport if he went to a large school and did not play football.

"Having that time away from football made me realize how much I was going to miss it," said Brendan. "I had the opportunity to come to Hampden-Sydney to play. I knew I couldn't throw that away, and I had to do it."

Brendan had been in communication with the Tigers since his junior year of high school, and knew several guys from Virginia Beach who played football at H-SC. He visited campus during the weekend of the Randolph-Macon game in late March of 2021—the Garnet & Grey were playing a non-traditional and limited spring season due to COVID, as well—and fell in love with the program, the College and its beautiful campus.

He did not get on field for a game as a freshman in 2021, though he did get to watch and learn from Weinberg, who was a three-time All-ODAC honoree and completed his outstanding career as the program's all-time leader in tackles (345) at the time, including 118 as a senior when he was selected as the State Small College Linebacker of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Richmond. Weinberg stayed around and served as an assistant coach during the 2022 season, while the tackles' record has since been broken by and is currently owned by two-time All-American Will Pickren '24 (366). Pickren currently starts at safety for The Citadel and is sixth in tackles (17).

"Brendan was a freshman during my senior year," explained Weinberg. "I had the honor to play and also coach him for a year. Brendan has some of the best attributes that any coach/teammate could ask for … fearless, hardworking and a team player. I was not surprised one bit to see him voted as a team captain and for all the success that he has had throughout his career."

After two years of not playing in a game and with little contact, Brendan has flourished with the Tigers. He has started 13 of 22 career games since the beginning of his sophomore season, totaling 82 tackles, including 14 for loss with 10 sacks, adding a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Brendan currently leads the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in sacks (4, eighth nationally) and tackles for loss (5.5, 34th nationally), while tied for 12th in total tackles (18).

"I had a great year my sophomore year, and last year, team captain Tramell Thompson '24 and I played the same position," explained Brendan. "We split time, but I learned so much from him on how to be a leader, better teammate and a great player. I give a lot of credit to Tramell for always having my back and looking out for me. Now here we are senior year and I'm just trying to have fun while I can."

Brendan was elected one of five team captains at the end of fall camp in late August, and now it's his turn to lead and inspire.

"Brendan possesses all the qualities that you want in a leader, not only does he lead by example, but he isn't afraid to say something to someone who isn't doing it the correct way," said first-year head coach Vince Luvara. "Guys look up to Brendan because of his relentless effort in everything he does. He was chosen a captain by his teammates because he lives the core values of our program in his everyday life."

"It's been awesome," said Brendan. "I really enjoy it, and I've been able to connect with my teammates a lot better, just reaching out to the younger guys, especially the freshmen, trying to do my best to get to know everybody. It's definitely been challenging at times, having to lead a large group of people for the first time in my life. I love my fellow captains, some of my really good friends, and we are trying to lead this team."

The Tigers are 2-1 through their first three games under Coach Luvara, who has brought about a different way of doing things, certainly a change from Brendan's first three years at the College.

"Everything Coach Luvara's done has been so organized, easy to understand and well thought out," explained Brendan. "I think he's doing a great job and is going to completely change this program. Practices are very, very efficient and there's not a lot of sitting around. I think this program is headed in the right direction."

Brendan can appreciate the efficiency of things surrounding the football program as an economics and business major. Following graduation, he is interested in pursuing opportunities in wealth management or financial advising—areas of special interest to him. It helps that Hampden-Sydney is ranked third nationwide among private schools for the best Alumni Network.

"The alumni here are phenomenal," said Brendan. "I've already reached out to a few, at the recent career fair, and some have already emailed me. You can really see how the alumni connection helps you here at Hampden-Sydney."

Not to get too far ahead, Brendan and the Tigers have a lot of football left to play this fall.

"I think the most important thing for us is to just try to take everything one day at a time," said Brendan. "We can't look at the Macon game before getting through Guilford. I'm just trying to stack good days, have a great practice each day, and help us be prepared for each game on Saturday."

The next opportunity for that leadership and preparedness to be on display, and hopefully make an impression on one of his younger teammates, will be at home against Guilford (NC) College on Saturday, October 5, at 1 p.m. on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium during Family Weekend.

Special Thanks to Hampden-Sydney Editorial Content Manager Alexandra Evans