Our NFL rookie profile series continues with this analysis of 2023 NFL Draft Prospect Tyjae Spears, RB from Tulane. We will continue to provide you with these in-depth rookie profiles and a ton of other fantasy football rookie analysis right up through the NFL Draft. Stay tuned, and stay ahead of your league.
January 2, 2023. Arlington, Texas. One year removed from a 2-10 season, running back Tyjae Spears has led the Tulane Green Wave all the way to an AAC conference championship and a matchup against USC, Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams in the Cotton Bowl. Spears has had a career year, good enough to be named the AAC Offensive Player of the Year, but now he faces his biggest test in the national spotlight. 205 yards, four rushing touchdowns, and a 46-45 Cotton Bowl victory later, Spears is a household name in the football community and his future in the NFL is secured.
Spears is one of the most exciting prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class. He has a nose for the end zone, leading the entire country in 2022 with 21 touchdowns from scrimmage. He also has an explosive ability to make defenders miss at the second level and break out for long runs. He had the chance to be a great fantasy football sleeper this year, but after the Cotton Bowl, and a great week of Senior Bowl practices, the hype train has left the station and reached top speed. Can he live up to the hype at the NFL level, or has this all been off-season helium?
THE STATS
Courtesy of Sports Reference.
Spears had a slow start to his career in New Orleans, playing in only four games his rookie season. He was on the verge of breaking out as Tulane’s starting running back in his sophomore year, but he suffered an ACL injury that would cut that season short.
2021 saw Spears splitting carries with Cameron Carroll, who Tulane turned to after Spears’ 2020 injury. Spears wasn't fully unleashed until midway through October. From that point on, he had 105 attempts for 747 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in six games.
