Lions Add ‘Bruising’ Rookie Running Back After Breakout Season
Despite having one of the most potent rushing offences in the NFL the previous season, the Detroit Lions managed to bring in some fresh talent this offseason.
One of those additions came via a surprising route: the Lions signed a local star who had a stellar 2024 college season but was passed over for the NFL draft.
Following a 1,200-yard season, the Lions add Anthony Tyus III.
On May 9, the Lions revealed their list of undrafted free agents, which included Anthony Tyus III, a former running back for Ohio. Tyus finished his undergraduate career strongly, according to Tim Twentyman of the team’s official website.
Twentyman writes, “Tyus averaged 5.1 yards per attempt and 93.5 yards per game this past season, rushing for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns.” “He also caught 16 passes for two touchdowns and 137 yards.”
For Tyus, the great season was a complete surprise. The Michigan native only managed to accumulate 504 total rushing yards and 81 total receiving yards during his first three seasons of college at Northwestern.
Tyus led the MAC’s top offense after more than doubling his career rushing output during his final season at Ohio.
By the end of his last collegiate season, Tyus showed a tendency for huge games, according to Matthew Ehler of MLive.com, who described him as a “6-foot-1, 226-pound bruising and powerful ball carrier”.
“The Bobcats have actually rushed for more than 100 yards in each of their last four games. In their 38-3 MAC title game rout of Miami (OH), Tyus III carried the rock 27 times for 151 yards and a touchdown, and he racked up 26 totes for 104 yards in their 30-27 Cure Bowl game victory over Jacksonville State,” Ehler wrote.
While Tyus will have some difficult competition to gain a position on the Lions’ final roster, The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy indicated he could still play another role in the upcoming season.
Pouncy noted, “At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, he’s another bigger back (4.59 40), but he can move when he picks up a head of steam and was dependable in pass pro.” “The Lions are constantly searching for reliable running backs to practice with.”
Talented Backfield in Detroit In 2024,
the Lions’ versatile running backs, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, led one of the league’s most dangerous rushing attacks.
The team’s all-time top running back, Barry Sanders, praised the two players, calling them the NFL’s best rushing duo, saying, “If a Super Bowl is in our future, in our near future, you would think those two guys would be a big part of it.” Sanders made this statement via Pro Football Talk.
According to Sanders, Gibbs is still not at his best, but the two get along great. Sanders continued, “David Montgomery has been a fantastic running back in the NFL for a lot of years, and he just added to that by joining this Lions offensive line after leaving the Bears.”
“And then you see what Jahmyr Gibbs was able to do last season, really from the time, the last two years that he’s been here, but I thought that last year was more of a breakthrough season for him,” the speaker said