No. 1 Running Back Thomas Tyner: 5 Reasons He Chose Oregon

Although I really dig Ty Isaac and Derrick Henry, Thomas Tyner is my No. 1 running back prospect for 2013 right now on my board. He's a 6'0", 200-pounder with mind-boggling speed.

Tyner can pull away from a cheetah with the ball in the open field, and he has great size. He's battled injuries, but if he stays healthy, the sky's the limit for him.

He held offers from all over, but Tyner settled on Oregon last November. I'm here to give you five reasons he chose to play for the Ducks.

5. Chance to Combo with DeAnthony Thomas

When Tyner gets to campus in 2013, DeAnthony Thomas will already be a junior. However, can you imagine what the two can do together.

Tyner may be faster than Thomas is right now, as well as bigger. I can foresee some Wildcat stuff, and other ways for them to utilize their elite speed and quickness for the Oregon offense.

They could work well as a great tandem.

4. Chance to Run Track

The Ducks' track program may be more storied than the football program.

Tracktown, USA, does it big in the Pac-12, and the chance to run some sprints in Eugene was another likely reason for Tyner heading to the Ducks.

He's so fast that he is in the running to compete at the Junior Olympics and Adidas Grand Prix.

3. Oregon Broadcasting Program

The term "student-athlete" is a controversial one these days, but some recruits actually are very, very serious about their academics. Tyner is in that group.

One of the reasons he chose Oregon was because of the school's academic standing, specifically their broadcasting program.

So after Tyner is done scoring touchdowns, look for him to be broadcasting on a network on your screen. 

2. Chip Kelly

If you're an offensive high school football player, and you see that you have interest from Oregon, you have interest in Oregon.

The Ducks' offense is everything ranging from record setting, fast-paced, innovative, wild, creative and it really accents speed.

Tyner's best trait is, well, his speed. The ring leader of the Oregon offense of course is head coach Chip Kelly, so Kelly himself has to be a prime reason Tyner picked the Ducks.

1. State Pride

Tyner is from Beaverton, Oregon, and the No. 1 reason that I feel he chose Oregon is, well because he's from there.

Any chance to make the transition to college from high school as seamless as possible, I urge players to take advantage of, and distance is a huge aspect of that.

It's only about a two-hour drive south from the Portland area to Eugene for Tyner's friends and family to come see him play every Saturday.