Tylan Wallace is a Reigning Biletnikoff Finalist, and Might Still be Underrated

ARLINGTON, Texas — Despite entering the upcoming season a reining Biletnikoff finalist, not everyone has Tylan Wallace as the undisputed best wide receiver in the Big 12.

The conference is undoubtedly stacked at receiver with the likes of Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, TCU’s Jalen Reagor and Texas’ Collin Johnson, but as a sophomore in 2018, Wallace was statistically better than all of them. Oklahoma State corner A.J. Green has gone against all of the league’s best pass catchers, but he said when he sees players ranked above the guy he goes against in practice, it seems illogical.

“It’s absurd, I think,” Green said Monday at Big 12 Media Day. “It’s not like he’s doing it with no TV coverage and nobody can watch. Everybody sees what he’s doing, against good opponents. Even sometimes against double coverage. I don’t know what to say. He’s a great player, a great wide receiver. He doesn’t even say much, he just kinda goes out there and works.”

As a freshman in 2017, Wallace had only seven catches as he sat behind three pros in James Washington, Marcell Ateman and Chris Lacy. His breakout in 2018 was somewhat out of no where. This year, he won’t have the benefit of flying under the radar. Instead, he’ll be at the top of opposing scouting reports.

“We’ve gotta do a good job of moving him around a little bit,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “It’s not something we do a lot with our wide outs. Because of the speed we play, most of our guys line up in the same spot every time.

“We have moved some guys around. We moved (Justin) Blackmon around, we moved James (Washington) around. We need to adjust his alignment at times. He’s a great young man. He’s very humble, an extremely hard worker. Regardless, he’s gonna have a good year. But has a coaching staff, we need to try to find ways to help the defense from taking him out of the game.”

Blackmon and Washington are some coveted company, but it’s company Wallace has earned with his work last season. His name is sprinkled throughout OSU’s record books. His 1,491 receiving yards in 2018 were the fifth most in program history, above Dez Bryant’s sophomore year and Washington’s junior year. Wallace’s 12 receiving touchdowns last season were the eighth most in a season in school history, as well.

Greatest receiver is school history talks include Blackmon, Washington, Bryant, Rashaun Woods and Hart Lee Dykes. Although his one big season isn’t enough to name his as the best Cowboy to ever do it, Wallace can find himself in the conversation if he’s able to replicate those numbers.

“There’s been a great wide receiver tradition here at Oklahoma State,” Wallace said. “Just to be mentioned in the talk of that is just an honor. I’m real happy that I’m even being mentioned in that talk.”