Travis Dye, RB USC: Offseason 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Dye was a three-star recruit from Norco High School in Norco, Calif. in the class of 2018

Travis Dye and CJ Verdell formed one of the best backfield duos in 2021. However, Verdell is off to the NFL, and Dye has changed teams. The USC transfer has a better shot at hearing his name called in the 2023 NFL Draft than his former running mate did this past year. Let’s take a deep dive into Dye’s draft stock.

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Travis Dye, RB USC: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Graduate student (fifth year) running back from Norco, Calif.

Background: Dye was a three-star recruit from Norco High School in Norco, Calif. in the class of 2018. He was the No. 987 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,031 for On3.com. Dye was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 75 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, he ran the ball 255 times for 2,383 yards and 34 touchdowns. Dye also hauled in 13 receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns. As a junior, he amassed 259 carries for 1,878 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 465 yards and six additional scores. As a sophomore, Dye produced 844 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 94 carries plus 16 receptions for 162 yards and a score. He comes from a football family. His father (Mark) played football at San Jose State from 1988-89 and spent time in the Houston Astros minor league system. His brothers are Troy (linebacker for Oregon from 2016-19 and currently with the Minnesota Vikings), Tony (safety for UCLA from 2008-11 and the Cincinnati Bengals from 2012-13), and Jordan (wide receiver for Sterling College from 2015-17). Travis also played lacrosse in high school. Dye transferred from Oregon to USC in the spring of 2022.

2021 Production: 14 games, 211 carries, 1,271 yards, 16 touchdowns + 46 receptions, 402 yards, 2 touchdowns

2020 Production: 7 games, 64 carries, 443 yards, 1 touchdown + 9 receptions, 239 yards, 4 touchdowns

2019 Production: 14 games, 106 carries, 658 yards + 16 receptions, 159 yards, 1 touchdown + 13 kick returns, 276 yards

2018 Production: 13 games, 140 carries, 739 yards, 4 touchdowns + 12 receptions, 69 yards 1 touchdown

Injuries & Off-Field: Suffered an ankle injury as a senior in high school

Awards: 2020 Honorable Mention All-Pac-12, 2021 Honorable Mention All-Pac-12

Pros: Displays the burst to get downfield in a hurry, experience playing in the slot, has experience on three of the four special teams units, only has three drops in college, effective weapon on screens and leaking out of the backfield, executes cuts and spins in the open field, tracks the ball well on deeper routes, extends to catch the ball with natural hands, lowers his shoulder into contact, battles for yards after contact and usually finishes falling forward, fights through arm tackles, motor runs hot and legs keep driving

Cons: Multiple fumbles every year including three in 2021, lacks home run speed, gets caught from behind because of below average long speed, rarely erases the safety’s angle, stop-start agility is average at best, doesn’t consistently move the pile, ducks his head and throws his shoulder in pass protection rather than squaring up to the rusher, lacks aggressive pass pro mindset

Overview: Dye is unofficially listed at 5'10", 200 lbs. He had 36 runs of ten or more yards last year, the same number as Iowa State’s Breece Hall. Dye stepped up for Oregon when CJ Verdell went down with an injury early last season. The USC transfer proved capable of handling a heavy workload for one of the nation’s premier teams. While Dye doesn’t have any high-end athletic traits, his burst allows him to consistently rip off chunk plays. He’s also shown the ability to execute open field cuts and spin moves to avoid defenders. For a smaller back, Dye isn’t afraid to lower his shoulder and initiate contact in the hole. The California native lacks home run speed and often gets caught from behind by defenders. He has a strange build that fluctuates in its ability to move the pile and generate yards after contact. Dye is a proven receiving threat capable of lining up in the slot and working downfield, but his technique in pass protection is subpar. 

Overall, Dye’s athletic limitations make it unlikely he becomes an early down feature back in the NFL. There are just too many more physically gifted players. However, Dye’s natural hands, route tree, and open field burst make him an ideal third down receiving back, especially in this class.

Role & Scheme Fit: Late down receiving back in an inside zone scheme

Round Projection: Early Sixth to Late Sixth

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 07-21-22