Tyjae Spears

Tyjae Spears
refer to caption
Spears with the Tennessee Titans in 2024
No. 2 – Tennessee Titans
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (2001-06-15) June 15, 2001 (age 23)
Hammond, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Ponchatoula (Ponchatoula)
College:Tulane (2019–2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 3 / pick: 81
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2024
Rushing yards:540
Rushing average:4.3
Rushing touchdowns:3
Receptions:64
Receiving yards:461
Receiving touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Tyjae Armon Spears (born June 15, 2001) is an American professional football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tulane.

Early life

Spears grew up in Ponchatoula, Louisiana and attended Ponchatoula High School.[1] As a senior, he rushed for 920 yards and had 880 receiving yards with 18 total touchdowns.[2] Spears was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Tulane University after considering an offer from Kansas State.[3]

College career

Spears rushed for 192 yards and one touchdown and caught five passes for 133 yards and one touchdown in four games during his freshman season at Tulane.[4][5] He began his sophomore season as the Green Wave's starting running back and rushed 37 times for 274 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 3 and using a medical redshirt.[6] As a redshirt sophomore, Spears gained 863 yards and scored nine touchdowns on 129 carries.[7] He was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year as a redshirt junior.[8] He was ranked the 6th best college football player nationwide among the "100 Best Players of the College Football Bowl Season 2022–2023" by College Football News.[9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 9+5⁄8 in
(1.77 m) 		201 lb
(91 kg) 		30+3⁄4 in
(0.78 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 4.54 s 1.57 s 2.57 s 4.32 s 7.27 s 39.0 in
(0.99 m)		 10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)		 18 reps
Sources:[10][11]

Spears was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round, 81st overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.[12] In Week 5, against the Colts, he scored his first professional touchdown on a 19-yard rush.[13] He finished his rookie season with 453 rushing yards and two touchdowns along with 52 catches for 385 yards and one touchdown.[14]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2023 TEN 17 1 100 453 4.5 23 2 52 385 7.4 48 1 1 0
Career 17 1 52 385 7.4 48 1 100 453 4.5 23 2 1 0

References

  1. ^ Bailey, Jarrett (March 29, 2023). "Remember Your Why: How Tyjae Spears went from small Louisiana town to top running back prospect". Bears Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Smith, Guerry (September 16, 2020). "Special gifts: Tulane running back Tyjae Spears broke out in his first start". NOLA.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Smith, Guerry (September 16, 2022). "Battle of the backs: Tulane's Tyjae Spears, Kansas State's Deuce Vaughn in spotlight". NOLA.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  4. ^ Smith, Guerry (March 10, 2020). "Corey Dauphine delighted to get another year as Tulane running back". NOLA.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Mills, Richie (September 22, 2020). "Tyjae Spears' Journey to Tulane Starting Role". WGNO.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. ^ Smith, Guerry (August 3, 2022). "Back to his old self, Tulane's Tyjae Spears looks to build on 264-yard 2021 finale". NOLA.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Brooks, Jesse (November 4, 2022). "Tulane running back Tyjae Spears visits high school alma mater". Fox8Live.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Tulane's Tyjae Spears, coach Willie Fritz take top AAC awards, with Cincy LB Ivan Pace Jr". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "100 Best Players of the College Football Bowl Season 2022-2023". College Football News. March 2, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "Tyjae Spears Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Tyjae Spears College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  12. ^ Wyatt, Jim (April 28, 2023). "Titans Select Tulane RB Tyjae Spears in the Third Round of Friday's NFL Draft". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts - October 8th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  14. ^ "Tyjae Spears 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
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