After a breakout season in his final year with Purdue football, former Boilermaker Tyrone Tracy Jr. awaits hearing his name called during the final two days of the NFL Draft.
Tracy, who played high school football at in-state Decatur Central before heading to Big Ten foe Iowa, has been projected as either a late Day Two or early Day Three draftee.
After seeing not much time or production at Iowa, Tracy came back to the Hoosier State, committing to Purdue football. Head coach Ryan Walters gave Tracy both, moving him from wide receiver to running back and kickoff returner.
The move paid off nicely for both parties. Tracy finished as an All-Big Ten selection, rushed for 854 yards and reeled in 47 passes for 330 yards. He also added nine total touchdowns.
“It was a huge benefit coming here. When Coach Walt came here, he was the main one who wanted me to switch to running back. He also wanted me to play special teams and he knew my receiver background would help me at the end of the day,” Tracy told the media at the NFL Combine.
Tracy showed out at NFL Combine
The former Purdue football player drew plenty of attention from NFL teams at the NFL Combine earlier this spring in Indianapolis.
Tracy ran a 4.48 in the 40, posted a 40-inch vertical jump, a broad jump of over 10 feet and showed his strength on the bench.
At the combine, Tracy was asked what letter grade he would give his efforts, and he said, “an A.”
“I’m hard on myself and have been through a lot, and this is one of those moments where I want to sit back and witness what God has done. I give myself an A because not only did I go through a lot, I did it the right way. I smiled and made sure I had positive impacts on those around me,” Tracy said.
Being able to hear his name called this weekend would be a dream and something he had heard often would happen during his days at Decatur Central.
“Out of high school, everyone’s talking about you know, ‘three and out, three and out, three and out’,” Tracy said. “But, you know, that wasn’t the plan. For me personally, and looking back at it I see why. I don’t think I would have had the confidence I have now if I would have went three years ago. I don’t think I would be able to say I’m a complete wide receiver or complete football player three years ago.”
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