One Last Ride for Tylan Wallace
STILLWATER – Tuesday afternoon against Miami in the Cheez-It Bowl will be the last time Oklahoma State fans will get to see some of their favorite Cowboys. For many, that will be senior receiver Tyan Wallace.
He joins fellow receiver Dillon Stoner in opting to make the bowl game their final game as a Cowboy.
“To me, playing in the bowl game is the right way to go out,” said Wallace. “I feel like I put a lot into the program and it means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to the guys, so I just wanted to go ahead and finish out the right way, in my eyes, and spend the last game, the last few moments and everything with them.”
Wallace has been the epitome of the ‘Cowboy Culture’ the four years he’s been in Stillwater and is easily one of the most-loved Cowboys on the team, right along side Stoner. His touchdowns, yardage and hard-hitting style of play endeared him to the Cowboy faithful, but his ability to work hard and bounce back from an ACL team last season to play this year at a high level is what secured his place in the NFL.
In fact, the very reason I mentioned above, the torn ACL, is the perfect example as to why he probably should’ve opted out. We saw him go down in the end zone in the TCU game and limp off the field favoring that same knee, an injury that kept him out of the Baylor game.
But it doesn’t surprise offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn one bit Wallace decided to play.
"He loves the game of football,” said Dunn. “As far as what I've seen from him, I've seen the same guy. I see him just go back to work again; it's almost like it never happened. You see him out there running routes, competing and playing — he's a joy to watch, he really is, because he plays so hard all the time and is a fantastic blocker. Loves the game and that's why he's playing now. He probably has as much reason to opt out as anybody, but the guy loves playing football and he wants to be out here with his team, with his teammates and there's a lot of senior receivers here that he enjoys playing the game with and this is his last opportunity to do it. I have a ton of respect for the fact that he's going to be out there on Tuesday playing that game with us and sharing those moments. Pretty exciting for me and I'm just happy I got a chance to get that kid recruited and here. I love the fact that he returned for his senior year and is competing. Exciting times, and one last opportunity to watch him run around.
"The last time I had a little group like that was when we were down there at the same bowl game - the Camping World Bowl at that time we had those three senior receivers. James [Washington] was part of that. I was with him for four years and now Tylan for four years and they play the same position. So, kind of come full circle I guess, but I'm excited for the game."