INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is set to participate in the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Big Ten Championship and the Indianapolis Colts, this weekend. Tracy joins the rest of the running backs, along with quarterbacks and wide receivers, for drills Saturday, March 2 beginning at 11 a.m. ET.
Ending his collegiate career and second year as a Boilermaker, Tracy had a breakout season to earn Second Team All-Big Ten honors (AP) and Third Team All-Big Ten honors (Coaches) as an all-purpose/return specialist. The Indianapolis native showcased his versatility by transitioning from wide receiver to running back at the start of the year, while also leading the Purdue return game. Tracy tallied 1,270 all-purpose yards, including 408 kick return yards, to rank second in the conference in both categories. Averaging 25.5 yards per return, Tracy finished with the 11th-best kickoff return average in Purdue history and the highest since Akeem Hunt in 2013 (26.1).
To start the season, Tracy took the opening second half kickoff 98 yards to the end zone for his first career kickoff return touchdown. He became one of only three Big Ten players to return a kickoff for a touchdown in 2023. Tracy's touchdown return was Purdue's first since Raheem Mostert took a 100-yard return to pay dirt at Penn State in 2013. It was the first kickoff return for a score at Ross-Ade Stadium since Akeem Hunt went 99 yards against Indiana State, also in 2013.
Despite sharing the workload in the backfield with Devin Mockobee, Tracy tallied 716 yards on the ground, while leading the team in touchdowns (eight rushing, one kickoff return) and pacing the Big Ten in all-purpose yards in conference games (127.4 ypg). Tracy averaged 6.3 yards per carry on 113 attempts, the second-best single-season rushing average in school history. The pair of Boilermakers were the only teammates in the Big Ten to rush for at least 500 yards in conference play. Mockobee racked up 625 yards in B1G games, while Tracy was close behind with 624 to rank fourth and sixth respectively. With Mockobee and Tracy over 500 yards on the season, it marked the first time since 2018 that Purdue had a pair of running backs crack that total in the same year.
Tracy produced a team-high three 100-yard games during the 2023 campaign. He had the biggest game of his career at Northwestern, recording 276 all-purpose yards for the most by a Boilermaker since Rondale Moore (2019). The senior turned 16 carries into a career-high 160 yards (10.0 yards per carry) with a touchdown, while adding 78 kickoff return yards and 38 receiving yards. He helped Purdue beat Minnesota with a team-high 174 all-purpose yards, including 122 on the ground. Rumbling for 112 yards in the win over Illinois earned Tracy the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.
Saturday's coverage of the combine begins at 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
Ending his collegiate career and second year as a Boilermaker, Tracy had a breakout season to earn Second Team All-Big Ten honors (AP) and Third Team All-Big Ten honors (Coaches) as an all-purpose/return specialist. The Indianapolis native showcased his versatility by transitioning from wide receiver to running back at the start of the year, while also leading the Purdue return game. Tracy tallied 1,270 all-purpose yards, including 408 kick return yards, to rank second in the conference in both categories. Averaging 25.5 yards per return, Tracy finished with the 11th-best kickoff return average in Purdue history and the highest since Akeem Hunt in 2013 (26.1).
To start the season, Tracy took the opening second half kickoff 98 yards to the end zone for his first career kickoff return touchdown. He became one of only three Big Ten players to return a kickoff for a touchdown in 2023. Tracy's touchdown return was Purdue's first since Raheem Mostert took a 100-yard return to pay dirt at Penn State in 2013. It was the first kickoff return for a score at Ross-Ade Stadium since Akeem Hunt went 99 yards against Indiana State, also in 2013.
Despite sharing the workload in the backfield with Devin Mockobee, Tracy tallied 716 yards on the ground, while leading the team in touchdowns (eight rushing, one kickoff return) and pacing the Big Ten in all-purpose yards in conference games (127.4 ypg). Tracy averaged 6.3 yards per carry on 113 attempts, the second-best single-season rushing average in school history. The pair of Boilermakers were the only teammates in the Big Ten to rush for at least 500 yards in conference play. Mockobee racked up 625 yards in B1G games, while Tracy was close behind with 624 to rank fourth and sixth respectively. With Mockobee and Tracy over 500 yards on the season, it marked the first time since 2018 that Purdue had a pair of running backs crack that total in the same year.
Tracy produced a team-high three 100-yard games during the 2023 campaign. He had the biggest game of his career at Northwestern, recording 276 all-purpose yards for the most by a Boilermaker since Rondale Moore (2019). The senior turned 16 carries into a career-high 160 yards (10.0 yards per carry) with a touchdown, while adding 78 kickoff return yards and 38 receiving yards. He helped Purdue beat Minnesota with a team-high 174 all-purpose yards, including 122 on the ground. Rumbling for 112 yards in the win over Illinois earned Tracy the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.
Saturday's coverage of the combine begins at 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network.