INDIANAPOLIS — Tulane running back Tyjae Spears is cooking, and good luck stopping him. The 5-foot-9, 204-pound back comes to the scouting combine looking to prove his worth as an every-down back (“A four-down back,” as he told me), and if you’re discounting him because of his size, you may want to check that, because Spears’ 2022 tape with the Green Wave is as full of utterly ridiculous plays as you’ll see from any back — perhaps from any player — in this draft class.
The metrics bear this out. In 2022, Spears gained 1,586 yards and scored 19 touchdowns on 231 carries. 1,052 of those yards came after contact, he averaged 4.55 yards per carry after contact, he forced 63 missed tackles, and 21 of his carries went for 15 or more yards for 793 explosive yards. He also caught 22 passes on 28 targets for 251 yards and two touchdowns, and though all of his passes were of the short-to-intermediate variety, he averaged 12.7 yards after the catch per reception.
Then, when he got to the Senior Bowl, Spears continued his penchant for ridiculousness.
Tulane RB Tyjae Spears continues to cook down here at the Senior Bowl! pic.twitter.com/saZ4enCaNS
— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) February 2, 2023
I met with Spears in the lower lobby of the Indianapolis Omni Severin Hotel on Wednesday, as he was one of many EXOS clients doing final training for the combine.
It was the first time I’ve ever watched tape with a player on my phone, but I could not resist the opportunity to go over a few plays with the most explosive back in this class. Spears was eager and able to explain — to a point — how it is that he does what he does, though as he says, you just can’t plan some of this stuff. It either happens, or it doesn’t, and with Spears, it happens all the time.
Without further ado, let’s have the man himself explain some of the silliest tape you’ll see from anyone working out at the scouting combine this year.
62-yard run vs. USC in the Cotton Bowl -- January 2, 2023
Your game against USC was a coronation of sorts — 17 carries for 205 yards and four touchdowns is pretty good. This run may have stood out the most, though it was not one of your four touchdowns.
“I should have scored on that. man. But he had a great angle. I mean, I kinda fell down, but that was crazy. I don’t know, man — you can’t win all of them.”
What was that play?
“We were running a little inside zone. We had been working on that play Hug the playside leg, and it just popped right out the front door.”
On this play, you have a great combination of patience and vision, and then, acceleration. You get bottled up at the start, and then, you get out of it.
“You just can’t really plan it, man.”
That’s three missed tackles forced.
“You can’t really plan it, though. I should have kept running. That was on me. Take me out of the game, Coach!”
Well, I don’t think they were going to do THAT. But what happens in your mind, in your instinct, when you hit that brick wall?
“It’s like, ‘Oh shoot — make something happen!’ That’s what said, like, ‘Dang — I messed up,’ but it turned out to be a good play. I just kept going to the pylon. Make him use his angle. Make him make an ankle tackle, and I break ankle tackles.”
55-yard run vs. Tulsa -- November 5, 2022
Going through this run, and… just… come on. man. These moves you’re putting on Tulsa’s defense are just not nice.
“Well I gotta say, I had a great O-line this year, man. Just a little fake G/T to the left…”
And then, the defender’s got you here, and you do what?
“Oh, man — I thought he had me, too. So, I just tried to make the hit as light as possible. Never give up face, I just took my leg from him, and that’s just bursting on the inside, taking my leg from him.”
But that burst is just ridiculous.
“Well, I ran a little track in high school. That’s when I get open, and I just… like I said, I ran a little track in high school, and I’m kinda fast.”
29-yard reception vs. Southern Miss -- September 24, 2022
I wanted to get into your reps as a receiver, and not just on the swings and screens, so this play made a lot of sense.
“It’s called a seam read. It’s two yards outside the hash. I had to clear the linebacker there — he had a bust right there, and that ain’t my problem. That’s his problem. Had a bust right there, and I caught the ball over his head. My objective is as a running back, as a ballcarrier, to just make the first guy miss. This was just a little counter action, boom, and I’m going to make that guy miss me. That’s what it’s going to look like, right there.”
Spears' favorite play is not what you'd expect.
After the tape festival, I followed up with a few questions, and you’ll want to keep a sharp eye on Spears when he’s running the drills this week.
What are you working on here with final combine prep?
“Just everything — coming here to dominate and to be one of the best running backs here. The goal is to be the best running back here.”
The combination of elusiveness and power — (check missed tackle numbers) — where did that come from?
“It’s all about want-to. man. Make it up in your mind, and put it in your heart that you can do it, and you can do it.”
If there’s one play you could show NFL teams that would tell them who Tyjae Spears is, what would that be?
“It was the Memphis game. I had to get to the A-gap and stand up in pass protection.”
I utterly love that Spears would make a block his favorite play, and when you see it, you can understand. With 10:35 left in the second quarter, Spears did indeed shift into the A-gap, and Memphis linebacker Cincir Evans had no idea what was coming.
What did that play tell people about you?
“I’m gonna fight. I may be considered a little guy, but I’m gonna step up and hit you in the mouth and fight. I’m not bragging, and I had a fair amount of good runs, but I’m talking about pass protection.”
Who do you model your game after?
“Nobody, man. Nobody. I really am looking for ways mentally to get myself better. I kinda feel like it’s a waste of time if you’re trying to compare yourself to another man. I like Aaron Jones, Alvin Kamara, guys like that. I’m not trying to compare myself to anybody, but those guys are good.”
Are you an every-down back?
“I am. I used to say a three-down back, but put me in there on fourth-and-2, and if you need that first down, I’m gonna get it. If you want to hand me the ball over the middle, pitch it out to the outside, or throw it outside, I’m gonna get it.”
What will your NFL team be getting in Tyjae Spears?
“A humble guy who’s gonna work every day. A Day 1 person who’s ready to compete for a starting job. And I feel that it’s the best compliment that you can give a person — that they’re the same person every day. When it’s time to turn it on, you turn it on. Matter of fact, you won’t have to tell me that it’s time to turn it on. I’m just here to make the most out of this opportunity.”
