Huge Civil War Vaults Thomas Tyner to Elite Status

Expectations.  Prior to this football season, expectations for Oregon’s true freshman running back Thomas Tyner were sky high.  Probably as high as any first year player in Ducks’ history.

Before committing to the in-state Ducks, Tyner had demolished an array of school and state records at Aloha High School.  Some of these included: over 3,400 yards rushing, 11.1 yards per carry and 45 total touchdowns.  In his state record-setting game last season against Lakeridge, Tyner rushed for an astonishing 643 yards and 10 touchdowns.  Word spread quickly around the state and he was even mentioned on ESPN’s Sportscenter.

Fans and media started to wonder what the powerful 5-foot-11, 210 pound running back, who also clocked a state-record 10.43 seconds in the 100-meters, might be able to do in Oregon’s run-centric offense.  An offense that had averaged more than 300 yards per game, but would be losing senior Kenjon Barner, the program’s No. 2 all-time rusher.  Could the 5-star recruit adjust to Division 1-level intricacies in his first year?  Could he replace Barner’s level of production?  After all, it is rare for even the most talented players to make much impact as a true freshman.

With 140 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in  the Civil War (his first 100-yard game), and 47 more hard fought yards in the Alamo Bowl, Tyner has more than delivered for the Ducks this season.  In doing so, he has officially put his name on Oregon’s shortlist of most productive seasons ever for a true freshman, or even a first year player, at the position.

So, with the season now complete, where does Tyner rank among the best in Oregon football history?  Well, statistically, he’s right up there with best to ever play in Eugene, and that was before the Alamo Bowl game added to his already impressive totals.

Below, you will find some of Tyner’s stats and figures alongside those of other notable first year running backs sine 1970.  Review and consider all the information and then draw your own conclusions.

Rush/Receiving Touchdowns

7/9 – De’Anthony Thomas ’11 [tFreshman]

14/0 – LaMichael James ’09 [rsFreshman]

8/2 – MARSHAWN LYNCH ’04 [tFreshman, Cal]

9/0 – Thomas Tyner ’13 [tFreshman]

9/0 – BO JACKSON ’82 [tFreshman, Auburn]

7/2 – Derek Loville ’86 [tFreshman]

8/0 – Sean Burwell ’90 [tFreshman]

8/0 – RICKY WILLIAMS ’95 [tFreshman, Texas]

6/1 – Jonathan Stewart ’05 [tFreshman]

3/4 – REGGIE BUSH ’03 [tFreshman, USC]

6/0 – LADAINIAN TOMLINSON ’97 [tFreshman, TCU]

5/1 – STEVEN JACKSON ’01 [tFreshman, OSU]

5/0 – FRANK GORE ’01 [tFreshman, Miami]

4/0 – Byron Marshall ’12 [tFreshman]

4/0 – Don Reynolds ’72 [sophomore]

3/1 – ARCHIE GRIFFIN ’72 [Freshman, Ohio St.]

3/0 – Kenjon Barner ’09 [rsFreshman]

2/1 – Terrence Whitehead ’02 [tFreshman]

2/1 – BARRY SANDERS ’86 [rsFreshman, OK St.]

2/0 – Jeremiah Johnson ’05 [tFreshman]

1/0 – Tra Carson ’11 [tFreshman]

1/0 – Ricky Whittle ’92 [tFreshman]

Combined Rushing/Receiving Yards Per Game

131.6 LaMichael James ’09

128.9 – Sean Burwell ’90

101.1 – RICKY WILLIAMS ’95

87 – ARCHIE GRIFFIN ’72

85.7 – De’Anthony Thomas ’11

75.2 – BO JACKSON ’82

72.5 – Thomas Tyner ’13

71 – Derek Loville ’86

64.5 – MARSHAWN LYNCH ’04

64.2 – REGGIE BUSH ’03

59.3 – Ricky Whittle ’92

58.6 – LADAINIAN TOMLINSON ’97

52.3 – FRANK GORE ’01

47.8 – BARRY SANDERS ’86

46.3 – Byron Marshall ’12

44.7 – Don Reynolds ’72

43.5 – STEVEN JACKSON ’01

32.6 – Tra Carson ’11

32 – Terrence Whitehead ’02

30.5 – Kenjon Barner ’09

23.3 – Jonathan Stewart ’05

22.2 – Jeremiah Johnson ’05

Combined Total Rushing and Receiving Yards

1,714 – LaMichael James ’09 (13 games)

1,289 – Sean Burwell ’90 (10 games)

1,224 – RICKY WILLIAMS ’95 (12 games)

1,200 – De’Anthony Thomas ’11 (14 games)

957 – ARCHIE GRIFFIN ’72 (11 games)

903 – BO JACKSON ’82 (12 games)

845 - Thomas Tyner ’13 (11 games)

835 – REGGIE BUSH ’03 (13 games)

780 – Derek Loville ’86 (11 games)

775 – MARSHAWN LYNCH ’04 (12 games)

712 – Ricky Whittle ’92 (12 games)

645 – LADAINIAN TOMLINSON ’97 (11 games)

576 – FRANK GORE ’01 (11 games)

491 – Don Reynolds ’72 (11 games)

461 – Byron Marshall ’12 (10 games)

435 – STEVEN JACKSON ’01 (10 games)

396 – Kenjon Barner ’09 (13 games)

383 – BARRY SANDERS (8 games)

363 – Terrence Whitehead ’02 (11 games)

260 – Tre Carson ’11 (8 games)

233 – Jonathan Stewart ’05 (10 games)

177 – Jeremiah Johnson ’05 (8 games)

Most Net Rushing Yards

1,546 yards 230 carries – LaMichael James

990 yards 166 carries – RICKY WILLIAMS

949 yards 211 carries -  Sean Burwell

867 yards 159 carries – ARCHIE GRIFFIN

829 yards 127 carries – BO JACKSON

711 yards 115 carries – Thomas Tyner

634 yards 133 carries – Ricky Whittle

628 yards 71 carries – MARSHAWN LYNCH

595 yards 55 carries – De’Anthony Thomas

562 yards 62 carries – FRANK GORE

544 yards 140 carries – Derek Loville

538 yards 126 carries – LADAINIAN TOMLINSON

521 yards 90 carries – REGGIE BUSH

447 yards 87 carries – Byron Marshall

421 yards 52 carries – Don Reynolds

390 yards 74 carries – STEVEN JACKSON

366 yards 61 carries – Kenjon Barner

325 yards 74 carries – BARRY SANDERS

272 yards 63 carries – Terrence Whitehead

254 yards 45 carries – Tra Carson

188 yards 53 carries – Jonathan Stewart

147 yards 24 carries – Jeremiah Johnson

SUMMARY

I included figures for a few non-Ducks of the historically good running back variety, to add further context to the stats.  As you can conclude, by almost any measure, Thomas Tyner had a pretty darn good true freshman season.  Toward the end of the season, you saw him becoming more decisive in hits cuts and getting up-field with a greater burst.

If, during this off-season, he can build upon his already considerable physical skills and mastery of the Oregon playbook, 2014 should look pretty bright for Tyner and the Ducks’ backfield.

Top Photo by Craig Strobeck