Prospect Bio

Ty Chandler, whose given name is Tykevious Chandler, was a dominant producer at Montgomery Bell Academy in Tennessee. He rushed for 2,558 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior and 2,252 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior. He was named Division II-AA Mr. Football. He was a top-100 recruit in the nation with four-star status, per 247Sports. Chandler stayed near home, committing to the University of Tennessee. He was limited to a reserve and special teams role as a freshman. He finished with 305 rushing yards and two touchdowns with another score on a kick return. Chandler saw a greater opportunity in 2018 when he led the team with 630 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 115 carries. He added 19 receptions for 183 yards and three scores. The Volunteers named him their Offensive Player of the Year. Chandler once again led the team in rushing in 2019 despite battling an ankle injury late in the season. He carried 135 times for 655 yards and three touchdowns with another 63 yards on 13 receptions. 

Chandler continued to share the backfield in 2020. He finished the season with 456 yards and four touchdowns on 100 carries. He caught another 16 passes for 111 yards. Due to COVID-19, Chandler had another year of eligibility. He opted to stay in college but transferred to North Carolina for his final season. It was perfect timing as the Tar Heels had just lost Javonte Williams and Michael Carter to the NFL Draft. Chandler thrived in his new role, rushing 182 times for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns. That included a spectacular 213-yard, four-touchdown performance against Wake Forest. Chandler also hauled in 15 passes on the year for 216 yards and one score. He was named second-team All-ACC and was invited to the East-West Shrine game where he led both teams in rushing with 69 yards on 11 carries.

College Stats

Ty Chandler College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference

Positives

+Speed; 4.38 40-time; 110.9 (92nd-percentile) Speed Score (PlayerProfiler.com)

+Vision

+Patient

+Kick return experience

+Three-down versatility

+Lined up in the slot and out wide on numerous occasions 

+Good hands

Negatives

-Average elusiveness in space

-113.2 (25th-percentile) Burst Score (PlayerProfiler.com)

-4.5% Target Share in 2021

-Never had a 20 reception season

-1.46 yards per team play 

-6.3% reception share in 2021

Highlight Reel

Comparable Player: Ty Johnson

NFL Draft Projection: Day 3

Yards Per-Formance Grade: 56.2

Bottom Line:

Ty Chandler has potential as a receiving threat in the NFL. He never really had impressive numbers—no more than 19 receptions in a single season—but when the opportunities came about to catch passes, he showed he has natural hands with the athleticism and versatility to develop into a weapon. Chandler will likely never carry the load, but there’s a role for him in the NFL as a change-of-pace ball carrier and big-play receiver.

Post Draft Analysis:

Ty Chandler joins a running back room that includes Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. Unless they plan on implementing a multi-back system with a pass-catching specialist, it’s hard to envision a path to fantasy relevancy for Chandler.

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

Yards Per-Formance Prospect Grade