NFL Draft Profile: Tyjae Spears, Running Back, Tulane Green Wave
Tyjae Spears
Tulane Green Wave
#22
Pos: RB
Ht: 5095
Wt: 201
Hand: 1000
Arm: 3068
Wing: 7400
DOB: 06/15/__
Hometown: Ponchatoula, LA
High School: Ponchatoula
Eligibility: 2023
One-Liner:
Tyjae’s homerun play ability and hardworking demeanor on and off the field are attributes that will directly translate to success at the next level.
Evaluation:
Tyjae Spears is at his best when he is in a zone-blocking scheme, where he is able to use his patience behind the line of scrimmage to set up his explosive running in the open field. He is comfortable waiting for zone blocks to develop to open up cutback lanes. Spears has great top speed that allows him to break a lot of plays into big gains. Once out in space, he is very much a north-south runner that would rather run through defenders than around them. Spears has a knack for always fighting for yards, which really sets the tone for his team. He has great open-field vision combined with the footwork to make sharp cuts and gain as many yards as possible. What is probably Spears’s most polarizing trait as a player is the heart he plays with every time he steps on the field. Despite his smaller stature, nothing seems to intimidate him. Whether it’s a defensive lineman he has to block in pass-pro or a 240-pound linebacker in the open field, Spears does not back down from a fight and always gives 100%. Having this trait demonstrates his love for the game and desire to improve, which he has every year at Tulane.
To have success at the next level, Spears must put on more weight and get stronger. Despite being of average height at around 5’10”, he looks smaller on the field because of his weight, as he is listed at 190 pounds. Not adding weight will limit his upside, as it will be difficult to take on a full workload with a smaller frame. Being at this weight caused him to struggle in important facets of the game, such as his running ability between the tackles, breaking tackles from larger defenders, and pass protection. Not being able to improve in these areas will relegate Spears’s role to a situational scat back that must be limited in pass situations. Outside of his size, Spears must improve his vision between the tackles, as he often misreads his blocks and does not maximize the yards his offensive line creates for him. Given Spears’ strengths and weaknesses, he is likely to function as a complementary back who has increased upside if he puts on more weight and continues to build on his strengths.
Grade:
5th-6th round pick
Quotes:
“Tyjae’s a dog. Coming off that ACL injury, he put his head down and worked hard. Everything he’s getting, he definitely deserves. He’s a very humble guy. He doesn’t want the spotlight, but I’m glad to see him reaping the rewards for his hard work.” – Tulane Linebacker Nick Anderson on Running Back Tyjae Spears
Background:
Born and raised in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Attended Ponchatoula high school and was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports. He totaled 1800 yards and 18 touchdowns in his Senior year. Committed to Tulane. During the 2021 season, he became Tulane’s starting running back and played in twelve games totaling 863 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He had an outstanding 2022 season, finishing with 1177 rushing yards and fourteen rushing touchdowns. Prior to this success, Tyjae suffered a torn ACL in 2020, which took him out for a large chunk of the season and limited his offseason training.
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