Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears continues to be recognized by various media outlets entering his second season. The 23-year-old has been pegged by many as a potential breakout player for the upcoming 2024 NFL campaign.
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports was the latest to list Spears among the five young running backs who are talented enough to be valuable contributors.
Here was part of his analysis:
Spears has supreme lateral cutting skill even by NFL standards, plenty of burst off the snap and contact balance is clearly part of what he brings to the field. He’s also caught 52 passes a season ago — 11th most in football — and forced the second-most missed tackles on those receptions. Massive potential for this former Tulane superstar, who’s always looked like one of the most athletically gifted players in any game in which he’s participated.
With Derrick Henry no longer roaming the backfield, touches are certainly up for grabs. Spears will start the season splitting time with free-agent signing Tony Pollard, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second consecutive season in 2023.
As alluded to, Spears rushed for 453 yards on 100 carries in a defined backup role last season. However, the former third-round pick, who rushed for nearly 1,600 yards as a junior at Tulane, is expected to be utilized more in a feature-back-type role, both as a runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield.
