Cody Wallace Cody Layne Wallace ( born November 26 , 1984 ) is an American football center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League . He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft . He played college football at Texas A & M . Wallace has also been a member of the New York Jets , Detroit Lions and Houston Texans . Early years . Wallace attended Class 3A Cuero High School , where he earned all - state honors as an offensive lineman . He played center , offensive guard , and offensive tackle at Cuero . As a junior and senior , he made over 100 pancake blocks . On the defensive line as a senior , he posted 45 tackles . He also advanced to the powerlifting state meet . As a college prospect in high school , he was rated 3 stars by Rivals . com , ranked 16th in the 2003 offensive guard prospect class , and ranked 42nd out of all 2003 Texas high school prospects . He was recruited by Texas A & M , Texas Tech , Iowa , and Texas . He chose to sign a National Letter of Intent with Texas A & M under head coach Dennis Franchione . College career . Wallace redshirted his first season . In his freshman ( 2004 ) season , he played in five games and was listed second at strong guard on the depth chart . As a sophomore , Wallace started in all 11 games as a center . He helped the team compile an average of 442 . 3 yards of total offense per game , which is the second best in team history . The team also rushed for 234 . 9 yards per game , which was A & M ' s best rushing record since 1991 . He received SBC All - Big 12 honorable mention honors after the season . Wallace continued to start as center in all 13 games during his junior season , helping the team produce 397 . 4 offensive yards per game , including a Big 12 record 206 . 8 rushing yards per game . The team also led the Big 12 in time of possession , third down conversion percentage , and the least number of turnovers . The offensive line allowed only 1 . 5 quarterback sacks per game . For his efforts , he was named to the AT & T All - Big 12 Football Second Team . Prior to his senior season , he was named to the Preseason All - Big 12 Football Team . After the regular season in his senior year , he was named to the All - Big 12 Football First Team , and was awarded by the Big 12 coaches ( who are not allowed to vote for their own players ) as the co - offensive lineman of the year . He was also named a Rimington Trophy finalist . Professional career . Pre - draft . At the 2008 NFL Combine , Wallace ran a 5 . 30 40 yard dash and made 26 repetitions on the 225 - lb bench press . San Francisco 49ers . In the 2008 NFL Draft , he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round ( 107th overall ) . The 49ers expect him to play early on as Eric Heitmann ' s backup . 49ers head coach Mike Nolan , when asked about Wallace ' s selection , commented : " Not necessarily that we need a center , but we wanted the best player on the board and because of the flexibility of the other guys , it doesn ’ t hurt us to take a center . As a matter of fact it helps us in getting a better offensive line . We coached him at the Senior Bowl . We really liked him . We were pleased he was there at our fourth pick , and we got him . " He signed a four - year contract with the team on July 23 . Wallace was declared inactive in all 16 games of his rookie season . He played in one game during the 2009 season . Wallace was cut by the 49ers prior to the 2010 season . Detroit Lions . On September 22 , 2010 , Wallace signed into the Detroit Lions ' practice squad . The Lions released Wallace from their practice squad on October 3 , 2010 . New York Jets . Wallace was signed to the New York Jets practice squad on October 13 , 2010 . Second stint with the Lions . The Lions signed Wallace off New York ' s practice squad and to their active roster on October 20 , 2010 . Houston Texans . After Wallace was cut from the Lions roster for the second time , he was signed to the Houston Texans practice squad . Wallace was cut on September 3 , 2011 by the Texans . He was signed to the practice squad on September 22 . Personal . Wallace was raised by his paternal grandparents , since both his parents died when he was young . When he was 8 , his father , aged 43 , died in prison — which he was in for charges that include theft — due to liver failure and a ruptured esophagus , both caused by alcoholism . His mother died of an unknown illness when he was 16 , and was unable to take care of her two children many years before that . To feel his mother ' s presence , he wears her stud earrings . His older brother by two - and - a - half years has served four years in prison for drug charges . Wallace stated : " Going through so much at a young age , it seems like I can handle more difficult situations maybe easier than most people . I just kind of look at everything in a little bigger picture . " Since - fired 49ers head coach Mike Nolan compared Wallace to former 49ers center Jeremy Newberry as " a no - nonsense guy when it comes to football . " He received his bachelor ' s degree in sport management from Texas A & M in May 2007 , prior to his senior season . He worked on a master ' s degree his senior season . On May 22 , 2010 , Wallace married his longtime girlfriend , Chely Marie George of Pleasanton , CA .