5 players Detroit Lions should be watching in the 2023 Senior Bowl

4. Tulane RB Tyjae Spears

Spears has been lauded as one of the top standouts from the week of Senior Bowl practices. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah wrote the Tulane product was “bigger and stronger than I expected”, presumably in acknowledgement of the 5-foot-9 Spears weighing in at 201 pounds down in Mobile.

Last season at Tulane, Spears rushed for 1,581 yards (6.9 yards per carry) with 21 total touchdowns (19 rushing). Over his last two seasons in college, he had 41 receptions.

Spears talked to Tim Twentyman of the Lions website, citing how he wanted to prove he could be a three-down back at the next level. By all accounts of the practice week, he’s off to a terrific pre-draft start there, with an excellent showing as a runner, a pass catcher and a blocker.

The Lions are in an interesting position in regard to possibly drafting a running back this year. Neither Jamaal Williams (a free agent) or D’Andre Swift (entering the final year of his rookie contract) is necessarily a long-term solution, and the shelf life of the position demands continuing to churn depth. Spears is surely on the radar of multiple teams now, and the Lions should be among them paying a lot of attention to him on Saturday.