Rookie Spotlight: Ty Chandler, RB North Carolina
Height: 5’ 11”
Weight: 204
Hands: 9”
Arm: 32 1/8”
40 yard dash: 4.38
Age: 24
NFL Comparison: Lamar Miller, Tony Pollard

College Production (Final Season)
36% team rushes
6% team receptions
21% total team yards
25% total team TDs

Pros
-Quick acceleration through the hole
-Great long speed
-Patient
-Good contact balance
-Can run inside and outside
-Soft enough hands
-Kick return experience

Cons
-Long strider
-Doesn’t always finish runs with strength
-Average elusiveness
-Older prospect coming into the league, will be 24 entering the league
-13th percentile vertical
-12th percentile agility score w/ terrible 3-cone (7.40)

Scouting Notes:
Largely a committee back at Tennessee, until a 2021 transfer to North Carolina, Chandler made the most of his final year in college, picking up 1,092 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns (182 carries, 6.0 ypc). A patient back, Chandler waits for his lane to open and then accelerates quickly through it to get to the second level. At times, his long strides run him into his blockers, but for the most part he avoids collision. Once he’s up to full speed, Chandler is a force to be reckoned with, as he maintains good pad level and possesses solid contact balance. He’s got a sharp jump cut, but he’s not terribly elusive and sometimes gets stymied too quickly with leg tackles, but Chandler possesses significant upper body strength and is pretty powerful for his size – He could stand to finish more runs with vigor though. Chandler is a versatile back, able to provide inside runs up the gut or bouncing outside and scurrying to the edge to freedom. He wasn’t used very often as a pass-catcher at UNC (15 catches for 216 yards (14.4 ypr) and 1 TD), but he has soft hands and his speed gives linebackers fits, so there’s plenty of room to grow in this department. Chandler’s also a willing blocker, though his smaller frame doesn’t offer much resistance to bigger defenders – I do think he can put on a good 10 lbs of muscle with some effort. To add to his skillset, Chandler is an asset in the return game, averaging 24.5 yards and scoring once at UNC. Overall, Chandler has played bigger than his size would indicate, but he’s going to have to use his speed more to make real inroads in the NFL.

Fantasy Outlook:
Chandler has largely avoided injury during his college career, and he has relatively fewer carries than many of the potential 3-down backs entering the draft, so that bodes well for his chances. I see him more as a 1B compliment in the NFL, but we’ve seen guys his size, like Michael Carter, make big leaps in less talented backfields. I don’t suspect he’ll step into a lead back role (same story with a lot of this 2022 RB class), but Chandler could definitely work his way into one. If he can shore up his receiving game and add some muscle, Chandler will be hard to keep off of the field as he’s potentially useful in so many facets of the game. A filler-back with upside in dynasty leagues, Chandler’s versatility raises his floor enough to feel comfortable about adding him to your roster in the latter portions of rookie drafts if you have the need for numbers at RB.