3. What can we expect from Thomas Tyner?
It’s largely flown under the radar, but the story of former five-star recruit and Oregon running back Thomas Tyner is a fascinating one. Tyner was last seen playing for the Ducks in the national championship game against Ohio State in 2015, but he was forced to announce his retirement due to injuries to both shoulders. He’s back now, and has ended up in Corvallis of all places, where he’ll be attempting to rejuvenate his career at a school that he once considered a rival.
Perhaps the most fascinating part? The Beavers have such a loaded backfield that Tyner won’t really be asked to carry the load. Junior Ryan Nall nearly ran for 1,000 yards in 2016. He’s joined by steady backup Artavis Pierce and TCU grad transfer and bruiser Trevorris Johnson. This is undoubtedly one of the best running back corps in the Pac-12, if not the nation.
Next: Ranking the top 50 players in college football in 2017
Still, all eyes will be on Tyner when he takes the field, even if it’s just to spell Nall. Will he resemble the speedster that he was as an underclassman in Eugene? Will he be able to stay injury-free for a full season? No matter how the story ends, it’s already been a fascinating one.