Tulane Has Two Players Drafted on 2nd Day of 2023 NFL Draft

Running Back Tyjae Spears and Linebacker Dorian Williams both heard their names called in the 3rd Round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Running Back Tyjae Spears is from Ponchatoula High School and was a 2018 Gridiron Football All-American Bowl invite. Spears gained 1,800 yards of total offense and scored 18 touchdowns his senior season. Spears was an American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 due to rushing for 1,581 yards and 19 scores (229 carries, 6.9 per) and catching 22 passes for 256 yards (11.6) and two touchdowns in 14 starts. He finished his college career by winning the Cotton Bowl MVP Award (17 rushes, 205 yards, 12.1 ypc, four TDs rushing; 1 reception, 14 yards) in the comeback win over USC. 

Spears was drafted with the 18th pick of the 3rd round by the Tennessee Titans.

Linebacker Dorian Williams is a South Carolina native who flipped from Coastal Carolina to Tulane late in the recruiting process (by Chad Reuter). Williams was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2020, ranking second in the FBS with 16.5 tackles for loss (with 4.5 sacks) and leading his squad with 98 tackles (also three pass breakups) in 12 games (four starts). He garnered honorable mention All-AAC notice in 2021 (73 tackles, three for loss with one sack, three pass breakups) after starting eight of 12 games played. Williams was ejected for targeting in the first half against Ole Miss. He was a first-team All-AAC pick as a senior because he filled up the stat sheet in 14 starts, tying for ninth in the FBS with 132 tackles (ranking third with 81 solo stops) and posting 8.5 tackles for loss with a team-high five sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He was the Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP with 17 tackles in the win over USC.

Williams was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 28th pick of the 3rd round.