Purdue RB Tyrone Tracy picked in 5th round by Giants
Tyrone Tracy is a New York Giant, getting selected in the 5th round (166th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft on Day Three. As expected, he is the first Boilermaker picked in the draft.
The last Boilermaker picked by the Giants was WR Brian Alford in 1998 (3rd round).
The last Purdue running back drafted was Zander Horvath, who went in the seventh round of the 2022 draft to the Chargers. While Horvath is more of a fullback, the last pure Purdue running back picked was Edwin Watson in 1998 by the Packers in the seventh round.
The only other Purdue running back currently in the NFL is the Dolphins’ Raheem Mostert.
Tracy’s versatility has to be appealing, as he can play receiver and special teams in addition to running back.
It has been a long road for Tracy, a 2018 graduate of Decatur Central High in Indianapolis who signed with Iowa, where he spent four seasons as a wideout. He transferred to Purdue prior to the 2022 season and had mixed results. But a coaching change–and position change to running back–proved to be a god-send.
“It was a huge benefit coming here,” said Tracy at his Purdue pro day as he pointed out that Ryan Walters was the one who pushed for the switch from wideout to running back. Running backs coach Lamar Conard also had a big influence on Tracy.
It all came together for the 6-1, 210-pound Tracy in his final season in West Lafayette in 2023, finishing second on the team with 716 yards rushing with a team-high eight rushing TDs. Tracy also made 19 receptions and ranked second in the Big Ten in kickoff returns (25.5 ypr), running one back 98 yards for a TD vs. Fresno State.
