Following his senior year at MiltonHigh School, Tyler Wallace will take his talent to the University of Central Arkansas.
Chafan Marsh, the head coach for the MHS football program, said Wallace will bring a lot UCA as he did with his four years with the Panthers.
“(Wallace) is a dedicated young man, a guy that has always been a tremendously loyal teammate,” Marsh said. “He is just a hard working kid.”
Wallace said he was sold on “everything” when signing with UCA, from the campus to the UCA coaching staff.
“They treat you like family and that is important to me,” he said.
In addition to seeing a change in scenery at UCA, Wallace will also see a change in position while moving from the defensive line to being expected to play as an offensive lineman for the Bears football team.
At 6’6” and 250 pounds, Wallace said he is already familiar with the position and ready for the transition.
“I am open to the challenge,” Wallace said. “I am going to try and bulk up and just do what they want me to do.”
Wallace said the UCA coaching staff will work with him to increase his weight to range between 275 and 300 lbs. According to him, it will not be a problem.
“Are you kidding me? I love to eat," he said. “I also got to work it out and turn it into muscle.”
While making an impact on the football field for the MHS Panthers, Wallace maintained a 4.0 grade point average. He said the balancing act of academics and sports meant for some late nights.
“I used to stay up until one or two o’clock in the morning to get work done,” Wallace said. “I would go to sleep and get maybe five or six hours and get right back up.”
Wallace said he plans to pursue a Masters of Business Administration.
Coach Marsh said Wallace's hard work ethic both on the field and in the classroom will only benefit him at UCA.
“He did a great job for us. His effort has been outstanding and it will show up in the University of Central Arkansas,” Marsh said. “We are looking forward to seeing a bright future from him as well.”
Reflecting on his tenure at Milton High School, Wallace said his fondest memories include all of the football matchups against rival Pace High School and playing alongside his friends on the team he considers to be like family.
“My dream was always to become a Milton Panther,” Wallace said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Panther Tyler Wallace opts for Central Arkansas