BROTHER’S HELPER
Injured brother motivating Wallace in Biletnikoff campaign
STILLWATER — Tylan Wallace has lived up to his Superman moniker for much of his breakout sophomore campaign. He’s done it without Batman.
Thursday night, Wallace will possibly become Oklahoma State’s fourth Biletnikoff Award recipient in the past nine seasons as the nation’s top receiver when the winner is announced as part of the College Football Awards in Atlanta.
Wallace’s twin brother, Tracin, will be alongside him when he learns whether he was able to beat out Alabama’s
Jerry Jeudy and Massachusetts’ Andy Isabella for the honor.
They’ve been side by side all year, even though Tracin, also an OSU receiver, has missed the majority of the season with his third ACL injury in the past four years.
“It’s been a real eyeopener,” Tylan said this week. “You never know
when your last play is.”
Among the finalists, Tylan ranks first in catches of 10-plus and 20-plus yards, second in receiving yards and yards per catch, and third in touchdown receptions.
However, in games against currently ranked opponents, he leads the nation in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, as well as yards per catch among the 34 receivers with at least 20 catches in such games. Wednesday, Sports Illustrated named him a second-team All-American.
Meanwhile, Tracin, who OSU has not made available to media as an injured player, has watched from the sidelines, providing motivation to his brother however he could.
“He comes to every game, watches every game; he texts me before every game,” Tylan said. “He’s always there in meetings still. He could easily be at home and just doing whatever he wants to do, but he’s still around here. He really just stays positive and keeps the team up.”
Tylan and Tracin, products of Fort Worth’s South Hills High School, are roommates. On at least one occasion, Tylan has worn Tracin’s clothing to practice. Although Tracin can’t be on the field, Tylan has found a way to put part of him on it.
“I think he plays for his brother,” offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. “I think there’s a part of him ... they’re kinda one. They’re tight at the hip. They’re really close. I think there’s definitely some fuel there.”
That fuel could lead to history.
After James Washington won it a year ago, the Cowboys could be the first team to have different players win the Biletnikoff Award in consecutive seasons. Wallace would be the eighth underclassman to take home the Biletnikoff and make OSU the first program with four winners.
“The kid’s super consistent, man,” Yurcich said. “He practices exactly how he plays. The same great catches you see on Saturday, you see on Tuesday, you see on Wednesday.
“Practice, he does it. Blocking, he does it. He’s a complete receiver.”
All Superman is missing is Batman.