KANSAS CITY, Kan. — F.L. Schlagle senior running back Ivan Webb has rushed for 2,783 yards this season. Cornelius Ruff, now at Kansas State, rushed for 2,019 yards and 27 touchdowns last year.
One reason why @tharealnumba2 is having a big year? ✔️out @tylen_wallace55 take on 3 defenders on one play https://t.co/jcMwnjOGIo #KSHSAA
— KCPrepReport (@KcPrepReport) October 29, 2017
Most people will tell you that offensive lineman Tylen Wallace has a lot to do with their success.
"[A] running back can't do [anything] without a line," Stallions Head Coach DWayne Williams said. "From day one as a freshman, he was planted. He was planted right over there at that 24 spot. He was planted right over there at that 24 Dodge spot. You know, that's where we make our bread and butter. We put our hat on the 24. And, that's the power side. Since then, Cornelius Ruff and Ivan Webb, that's like 7,000 yards later."
Tylen plays both on the offensive and defensive line and in also a force to deal with for opposing teams.
Tylen Wallace. 3x 1st team all conf on both sides of ball all state hon mention soph/jr year Def POY last yr@Tylen_Wallace55 has to be #1
— Coach C.M Macon (@Cernyn1) July 17, 2017
He's fully aware that his position is not a glamorous one. Tylen never thought he would have the chance to be recognized for a position mostly played in the trenches.
Tylen Wallace with a sack today and numerous pressures. Schlagle's defense will be swarming again this year. #SHUKC pic.twitter.com/AlThKPUJFy
— SHUKC (@OdoggBrox) September 3, 2017
"We had Cornelius. And now, we've got Ivan. And, I've been sitting there for a while [saying], 'It would feel good to get [a Hy-Vee 41 Five-Star Athlete of the Week award] one day," Tylen said. "I went to go look. And, I wanted to see if any, you know, big boys got it any time. So, I didn't know of any big boys that got it. So, maybe that's not our thing you know."
Stephan McIntosh is the Stallions' Offensive Line & Defensive Line Coach in addition to their Special Teams Coach. He's also someone else who also doesn't get a lot of the recognition for the powerful F.L. Schlagle running game. But, his development of players on the line has been very instrumental.
"This is pretty amazing. It's kind of surreal especially, you know, going here, graduating from Schlagle. It's kind of special to be part of a group like this. And, it's kind of a blessing to coach such a special athlete like Tylen Wallace," Stephen said.
Tylen had guidance from many different places on the development of his game. But, there was no person that had any bigger influence than his father Taylor Wallace, who is also the team's Defensive Coordinator. Taylor played as an offensive lineman for Wyandotte High School from 1988-1992 and played as a linebacker at Butler County Community College. Taylor and his three sons (Taylor Jr., T.J. and Tylen) were all offensive lineman. Tylen certainly learned from the guys around him.
"When I was coaching in Pop Warner down there with the little kids, he was down there right by my side watching his older brothers and other kids going hard at it. And then, seeing what it takes to get to that level, seeing what type of work it takes to get to the guy he is today to make him better," said Taylor. "He watched his older brothers. That's who really pushed him. I [didn't] have to do a lot."
Tylen's hard work is starting to get noticed by several college football programs on various levels including Kansas State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa.
"I had a lot of different schools, you know, come in and contact [me]. I did a couple of different visits to a couple of different schools. None of them had really given me any offers or anything like that [just yet]. But, there's a lot of schools that are pretty interested in me," Tylen said.
NOTE: The Hy-Vee 41 Five-Star Athlete of the Week segment airs during a new night in the 2017 season. The segment will air on Wednesday nights during the 10 p.m. sportscast. It previously aired on Thursdays.
