Kasey Dunn: Tylan Wallace is ‘Probably the Most Physical Receiver I’ve Had’

The evolution of Tylan Wallace has been a blast, hasn’t it? From one of just a handful of freshmen playing less than two years ago to possibly the best receiver in college football. It’s nothing new for wide receivers coach Kasey Dunn, who has coached James Washington, Justin Blackmon and Marcell Ateman in his time in Stillwater.

And he said while Tylan’s 1,500-yard, 12-TD season last year was impressive, it probably wasn’t from the void like maybe folks nationally thought.

“For us, he wasn’t [an unknown],” said Dunn. “You could see it coming the year before. That’s why you play him. There was no reason for Tylan Wallace to play with James Washington as No. 1 and Tyron Johnson as No. 2. Why do you play him? Well, because he’s really good.

“In a year, those guys are gone. You didn’t want him walking into the stadium big-eyed going, ‘Oh my gosh what have I gotten myself into?’ and have that learning curve last year.”

He didn’t. Wallace put up 100+ in his first four games against FBS opponents in 2018 and then went on a mega-tear in the middle of the season when he posted 564 yards — also known as almost Dillon Stoner’s entire year — against Texas, Baylor and OU.

That’s not what impressed me most, though. What impressed me most was the way he started to evolve as a talker and a leader. He gave good answers, sure, but he did it with a confidence and a weight that a sophomore in college should not possess. Dunn talked about developing that this year.

“[He can grow most in his] leadership,” said Dunn. “I know that’s such an on-the-fence answer. You want to hear something about his skillset and how he can play. But he needs to get everyone around him better. If he can do that, then we’re better and consequently everything rolls. He’s a good player, and he’s got to get Dru and Spencer and Jordan McCray and those guys rocking and rolling. That’s what really matters.”

Then Dunn surprised me. He got asked about the new targeting guidelines and started down a path about his past players (again, Washington, Blackmon, Ateman etc.)

“One of his best assets is he’s going to knock your teeth out,” said Dunn. “He’s going to blast you. He’s probably the most physical receiver I’ve had in nine years here. That includes Blackmon and a bunch of dudes. He will kill you. For him to be dialed back like that, I’m scared. It’s like telling a tiger not to hunt. We have to hope he doesn’t go smack somebody and get ejected.”

Yeah, we do too.

I’m excited about Tylan’s third (and final?) year in Stillwater. He’s a rock amid some of the chaos surrounding this team right now. The guy you go to when you’re down late and you have to have something, even though everyone from both teams knows you’re going to him. In other words, another in a long line of the most elite wideout talent in the sport. Dunn summed it up well.

“He’s a great player and gosh I hope we can hold onto him.”