In case you missed it, Zach Lyons of Stacking the Inbox, Football & Other F Words, and A Football Show on 440 Sports and I have made it down to Mobile, Alabama. We’re here to cover the 2023 Senior Bowl and all of the action that leads up to it. We spent pretty much the entirety of our trip down here tossing around names of players we were excited to see this week, but I don’t think anyone sparked the enthusiastic conversation that former Tulane Green Wave running back Tyjae Spears did. Not that I was keeping track or anything, but I’m fairly positive we talked about Spears all the way from Birmingham down to the Mobile River.
Do the Tennessee Titans have an immediate need at running back? Nah, probably not. Did head coach Mike Vrabel recently talk about the team’s need to get faster overall? Hell yeah! Would Spears add a speed dynamic in the backfield that the Titans don’t currently have? You bet your ass. Draft crush aside, this is a really good running back class that may not have the All-Pro candidates at the top of it, but it’s loaded with guys who will contribute in the NFL. Don’t be surprised if the Titans invest a draft pick in the position. If they were to do so, I’d love to see them take a guy like Spears.
He’s been climbing draft boards in recent weeks – I saw a scout slap an ‘UDFA’ grade on him not too long ago, which seems fucking absurd. But now, he figures to be a mid-round pick, potentially even a Day 2 guy. I’m convinced that the folks who don’t have him graded as highly just haven’t invested the time into watching him carefully. As more eyeballs are on him this week in Mobile, and assuming he can answer the questions about his pass protection skills adequately, I expect him to keep climbing up those draft boards. That’s really the only concern I have about his game.
Burst, acceleration, and pure speed all come to mind when you watch Spears. But, it’s his versatility, patience, and vision that make him an intriguing prospect to me. Spears is great at finding the hole, and when he makes up his mind, he cuts clean, and he fuckin’ goes. He is superb at navigating traffic. He doesn’t shy away from contact, and if he gets into the open field, he has that second gear he can hit to pull away from defenders.
I’ve seen mixed reviews on his prowess as a receiver. Some acknowledge his efficiency in catching the ball. Others point to how Tulane used him and say he’s not much of a threat catching the ball. Personally, I think his pass-catching potential is underrated – he has the talent to run routes. They had him running down the field against Houston on a nifty play that saw him get some help in the form of a receiver to his left crossing over underneath him towards the sideline that Spears was streaking down. It was a well-designed play created to cause conflict within the cornerback. The defender had to choose between cutting off the crossing receiver or hanging with Spears down field. He chose to attack the crosser, leaving Spears to get into the end zone and catch a touchdown. Tulane just didn’t give him a very nuanced route tree, but when they called upon him to catch the ball, he did well. That Houston touchdown is an example of his potential as a receiver to me. They mostly had him catching the ball on screens and wheel routes, but I see potential for more because of how naturally he uses his hands to catch the ball. They also ran a lot of wildcat with him. He is absolutely a dynamic play-maker with the ball in his hands.
Just watch this guy’s Cotton Bowl highlights. He had a whopping 205 yards and four touchdowns in the game, but he looked completely unafraid of the moment. He picked up some major chunk yardage after finding the hole and getting into space. And, he showed some tough running, including a gutsy touchdown run. USC was able to get to him before he could get going, which raises concerns about how he’ll adjust to NFL defenses. He’s not going to be playing American defenses any longer. He did have a fumble from getting a little too loose with the ball and carrying it unnaturally high from trying to avoid contact. But ultimately, he has a wealth of production on tape, and a skill set that translates to the NFL.
I look at how the Philadelphia Eagles spread out their formations to create space in the running game by forcing the defense to play the length of the field, and I think, “man, if Spears got in an offense like that, he’d do some damage.” I’m hoping our beloved Titans see his potential and call his name this spring. But, wherever he ends up, he’ll be a spark plug on offense. If you haven’t gotten enough of me gushing about this guy, watch Zach and me on the first of two episodes of A Football Show recorded down here from the Mardi Gras Manor in Mobile embedded below.
All Senior Bowl content is sponsored by Lyons Ford. They’re not your typical dealership! They will always give you every discount you qualify for, and give you you the most bang for your buck for your trade-in vehicle. You won’t regret doing business with them. Reach out to Zach on Twitter if you’re looking at getting a new or used vehicle.
More Senior Bowl 2023 Content
- 2022 Showed Us Why The Senior Bowl Is So Important In Evaluating Offensive Linemen
- Players I’m Most Excited To Watch At The 2023 Senior Bowl
- There’s A Ton Of Promise In This Year’s Senior Bowl Running Back Group
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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