Freshman Tylan Wallace Comes up Big on Third Down in OSU Win over Cyclones

Tylan Wallace’s breakout performance on Saturday was largely overshadowed by Marcell Ateman’s heroics. But the true freshman from Fort Worth earned trust in Mason Rudolph, and perhaps an even larger role in the offense moving forward with his play against Iowa State.

Wallace doubled up his reception count on the season from three to six against ISU, with a critical 49 yards to boot. In fact, all of his yards were critical — all three of his receptions came on third downs, extending three drives that later resulted in points for the Cowboy offense.

The first, as you can see above, came on a simple shallow crossing route right across the face of Rudolph on third and 3. He gathered himself, knew where the chains were, and got up field to get the yardage needed to keep the drive alive. Big boy stuff for a true freshman thrust into major action.

“We need to play him more,” Mike Gundy admitted after the game Saturday. “Yurcich and Dunn must have lost a bet or something because I don’t know why he’s not in the game more … I do know why, because 28’s in the game. When he’s in the game and we’ve thrown it to him, he’s made plays.”

Wallace was also good outside the hashes, too. Lining up on the outside again here on third and 8 on another drive-saving snag, Wallace hauls in one on the sideline to keep the chains moving. This was the play immediately after Rudolph tripped Justice Hill in the backfield for a 2-yard loss.

Wallace’s third catch, though, was surely his biggest. Third and 3 is big, third and 8 is yuge, but third and 13? That’s big boy stuff for a freshman who entered the game with 49 college yards.

Check him out here as he simply finds a soft spot in the Iowa State defense to pick up 25 on third and 13. Seven plays later, Matt Ammendola would nail a 35-yard field goal to give OSU a 24-21 lead to keep up in the shootout.

Had James Washington not been hobbled in Ames, we might not have seen No. 80 much in action at all on Saturday. But given the opportunity, he thrived and flashed the talent that garnered close to 20 scholarship offers out of high school.

“The catch he made on third-and-15 or whatever it was, he made a fantastic catch right in front of the bench,” said Gundy. “I’m excited about his future, what he brings to the table.”