Purdue football, Decatur Central running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. selected by Giants in 2024 NFL Draft

Tyrone Tracy Jr. of Decatur Central High School and Purdue was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round (No. 166 overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Listed as a running back, Tracy brings a versatile background to the NFL. He played wide receiver at Iowa before changing positions at Purdue, where he also had a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Tracy was listed fourth on NFL.com for "athleticism score" among running backs during the NFL Scouting Combine.

Tracy left his mark on the Decatur Central record books, earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Indiana as a senior in the fall of 2017. He finished his career with 6,924 yards of total offense, including a senior season that saw him rush for 1,412 yards and 13 touchdowns and catch 54 passes for 1,132 yards and 16 TDs.

Tyrone Tracy's story: Plan A is NFL dream. Path from Iowa to Purdue a reminder to have Plan B.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. NFL Draft profile

Age: 24

Height: 5-11

Weight: 209 pounds

Strengths: Versatility with plenty of experience at running back and wide receiver; loose hips and wide base allow sharp cuts and change of direction.

Weaknesses: Doesn't have home run speed; still learning to run with discipline to the play design.

NFL.com prospect rating: 6.18 (good backup with starting potential)

NFL Scouting Combine results

40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds

10-yard split: 1.53 seconds

Vertical jump: 40 inches

Broad jump: 10 feet, 4 inches

3-cone drill: 6.81 seconds

20-yard shuttle: 4.06 seconds

Tyrone Tracy Jr. scouting reports

From NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: Tracy was a full-time running back for only one year but had exciting flashes all over his tape. He’s a bendy, rhythmic runner who sees and traverses the interior run lanes like he built the maze. He creates additional yardage with a blend of elusiveness, power and a willful desire to maximize each run, but he will need to curb his eagerness to bounce runs wide when it’s time to finish and move to the next snap. While he’s still honing his skills as a runner, his ability to handle gadget runs and threaten linebackers out of the backfield could get him on the field early on. Tracy will be an older rookie, but his versatility and burgeoning talent as a complementary runner should open evaluators’ eyes to what he could become as a pro.

From NFL Draft Diamonds: He shows good vision as he finds the open hole on zone runs and exhibits solid patience as he waits for the block to be set up on power runs. On inside runs, he exhibits average burst through the hole and does a solid job of finishing the run by falling forward for extra yardage. ... As a receiver in the passing game, he runs mainly swing routes with an occasional seam route. He tracks the ball well in the air and adjusts his body to the underthrown pass. He shows solid hands as he makes the catch with his hands close to his body. He exhibits above-average competitive toughness both physically while in pass pro and mentally as he doesn’t shy away from contact and is reliable on the goal line.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. stats

Tracy was a wide receiver at Iowa and primarily a running back at Purdue. He also returned kickoffs for the Boilermakers in 2023 (16 returns, 25.5-yard average, 1 touchdown).

Tyrone Tracy Jr. highlights

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tyrone Tracy, Purdue running back, picked by Giants in 2024 NFL Draft