Tyjae Spears isn't focused on being Derrick Henry or Joe Mixon. He's focused on being great
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears isn't here for anyone's comparisons.
After an impressive rookie season, Spears heads into Year 2 with the Titans in an interesting, unenviable position. Derrick Henry, the face of the Titans' backfield for nearly a decade, becomes a free agent in March. Mike Vrabel and Tim Kelly, the coaches who drafted Spears last year, are out, replaced by coach Brian Callahan (formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals) and offensive coordinator Nick Holz (formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars).
Spears' second pro season will be nothing like his first. But, as he told The Tennessean on Thursday, he can't concern himself with trying to fill Henry's role or be a carbon copy of Bengals running back Joe Mixon or do what Jaguars running back Travis Etienne does.
KEEP READING: The Tennessee Titans sure are trying hard to make you like Ran Carthon | Estes
"First and foremost, you can never say, ‘I’m going to be No. 2.’ I can’t be Joe Mixon No. 2. I can’t be Derrick Henry No. 2. I can’t be nobody No. 2," Spears said. "If I go in there with that mindset, I’ve already lost. I’m going to be Tyjae Spears No. 1.
"That’s all I can be and that’s all I will be. I’m going to be great. Yes I am going to be great. Because I’m going to put the work in and put the time in and be humble and do what I’m supposed to do."
Spears rushed for 453 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie, adding 385 receiving yards and a touchdown on 52 catches. Spears was just the 16th rookie running back this century to catch 50 or more passes and rush for 450 or more yards. Spears did all of this despite carrying only 100 times, 20 fewer than any of the other 15 backs on the list.
Since ending the season with a two-touchdown performance, Spears says he's mostly kept a low profile. He's back in his hometown of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, spending his time visiting elementary schools in his old district. He's trying not to take his position of influence for granted, wanting to be the beacon of hope he wishes he had when he was their age.
He's hasn't gotten to know Callahan or Holz particularly well yet. He hasn't gone in-depth studying Mixon either, though he said Mixon gave him some encouraging words after the Titans' October game against the Bengals.
Those things will come with time. The plan is to get back to training next week. For now, he's enjoying the moment, something he admits was tough to do as a rookie with all the pressure to constantly prove you belong. This week, that means taking in the Super Bowl experience with his dad.
Spears is in Las Vegas with Panini America, the collectibles company that works as the exclusive trading card partner of the NFL. He's spent the week signing autographs, taking pictures and meeting with kids, including a 9-year-old who Spears said flipped the script and gave him his autograph. Sunday he'll attend the game with his dad, a first-time experience.
THE PLAN: What Brian Callahan's offensive staff hires say about his plan for Tennessee Titans
Then they'll head home and Spears will get back to working toward becoming the complete running back he wants to be.
"There’s much more out there for me to achieve, and I will achieve it," Spears said. "It will be what I expect it to be. I’m still under the radar right now and I’m glad I am, too."
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans' Tyjae Spears on Brian Callahan, Year 2 expectations
