2020 NFL Draft: The year of the wide receiver
By Ryan Roberts
Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
One of the more interesting and toughest evaluations comes out of Stillwater, where Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace is coming off of a dominant sophomore season, recording 86 receptions for 1,491 yards and 12 touchdowns. Despite those dominant last season statistics, I am left searching for anything resembling a dominant trait for Wallace.
Listed at 6-0 and 185 pounds, Wallace will never be mistaken for a prototype example of size/stature at the wide receiver position. What Wallace lacks in this prototypical size, he makes up for with physicality and aggressiveness through the catch point.
His lower body explosion certainly plays a role, but what Wallace does possess one elite trait. That trait is his alpha mentality. When the football is in the air, he believes that it is his.
In 2018, Tylan Wallace had 86 receptions for 1491 yards and 12 touchdowns for #OKState. Makes a terrific adjustment w/great body control and then hurdles the defender. You have my attention, sir. # pic.twitter.com/v1fUkfbyqp
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) June 1, 2019
Evaluators are going to question size for the position. They are going to question an absent they second gear. They will even question an occasional drop from time to time. What they can’t question is his first step explosion and how he attacks the football in the air.
His transition to a No. 1 role at the next level may be cloudy, but rest assured, the role he plays is a valuable one on the next level.