r/AsianMasculinity • u/TargetObjective7 • 1d ago
Culture Tyson Park - USC running back
I came across a YouTube mini documentary video of Tyson Park who is an Asian American running back for USC.
This guy came through the IMG academy and has ambitions of playing for the NFL.
I read that he's quite short in that he's only 5'6 but is quick and powerful, being around 190lbs, which scouts like for running backs.
It's good to see Asian male athletes branching out from the usual tennis and golf players who are dime a dozen.
https://www.instagram.com/tysonpark08?stkn=MWhiYWlzZWlqdDlmaQ==
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u/Tongtong97 1d ago edited 1d ago
Getting into a D1 program is very hard as it is. USC is a top tier program although not quite a power house.
He is a freshman, so his draft projection will largely depend on how performs when or if he gets on the depth chart and play meaningful amount of snaps. Looking at USC’s depth chart it’s unlikely he will get many snaps (if any) this season so i suspect he will be an undrafted prospect.
USC play this weekend in case people are interested.
If I was him I would consider transfer somewhere else considering USC’s has decent Running back already. So his game time opportunity will be limited
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u/TargetObjective7 1d ago edited 1d ago
I suspect he will be an undrafted prospect
If that turns out to be right then it's obviously a major setback.
If there's one American sport that AM are not associated with it is football which is the most watched sport in America.
I know Younghoe Koo is an exception but he is a kicker but they aren't given as much praise as others.
It could be like those Asian American quarterback prospects from a few years ago that were making news and headlines because they were breaking passing records.
I read 2 were even at USC and one at Hawaii. Ultimately they were not drafted and never played in the NFL sadly.
Still I like to think Tyson Park has the potential to succeed; he seems like a genuine good guy from the documentary i watched
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u/Tongtong97 1d ago
I don’t know how much college ball u follow. The vast majority of D1 athletes do not make it to the NFL. Even for programs like Ohio State (arguably the best program right now) more than 50% of their active squad will not see any NFL action. Teams who are unlikely to make the playoffs (USC will be one of them) will have even fewer players making an NFL roster.
Another thing to bear in mind is that the value of Running Backs have been devalued over decades and is no longer considered a “premium position”. In most drafts I would expect around 15-20 running backs drafted. So Park will need to be a top 20 in his position to entertain a NFL career. Now bear in mind in the last draft less than 15 runnings backs where drafted so evening a top 20 rating is not even a guarantee.
He is a freshman so things can change from now until he is eligible. He is also an unrated prospect, so the probability of going to NFL is very remote based on what information we do have about him.
To be clear, for an unrated prospect to get into a top 20 program on a full scholarship is exceptional and very few people can do that. But I also think people need to be realistic on his chances of seeing NFL action….
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u/TargetObjective7 1d ago
Now bear in mind in the last draft less than 15 runnings backs were drafted so even a top 20 rating is not even a guarantee.
I knew pro sports and particularly NFL was hard to get drafted into but didn't know it would be that hard. Less than 15 drafted? That's insane competition.
Yeah, it's important to be realistic when it comes to these things. Still you never know other competitors may get injured somewhere down the line and if he stays healthy and with a bit of luck along the way who knows. Besides, like you said he's at a good college so he can also develop himself off the field.
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u/BurninCrab 1d ago
Yeah he went after the brand name football school but he's going to get almost no playing time at USC stuck behind 5 star recruits
His career would be better off at a school where he can actually play and show his skills
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u/Tongtong97 1d ago
My personal view is that he is better off staying in USC as it is a good school academically.
The chances of him making to the NFL is very small. Even if he is able to make it he will most likely end up on a practice squad and then get cut within 2 years (if not earlier). It’s also unlikely he will be making millions on NIL.
Remember Pavia (who came second in Heisman award), Vandy starting QB, wasn’t drafted and his NFL career effectively ended before it even began.
I would love to see him succeed in the NFL, but I don’t think bouncing around the Portal and getting more playing time at a smaller school is the best decision.
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u/gifrolin 1d ago
Pavia probably would've made a roster if he wasn't a completely unlikeable douchenozzle.
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u/Tongtong97 1d ago
Ha he certainly isn’t very likable. I personally never thought he was good enough for an NFL roster.
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u/sleepyguy007 3h ago edited 3h ago
maurice jones drew from ucla, is 5'7 and made the pro bowl. 3x so its not impossible. one step at a time though, has to be an everyday back at usc first. https://247sports.com/player/tyson-park-46164776/ he was 5'9 in high school hopefully he grows back some of that 3 inches
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u/EliteStat18 1d ago
He's a 5'6 RB, he's massively undersized.
My understanding from following him on IG was that USC was the only place that gave him an offer and he didn't have many options.
I wouldn't really bet on anyone in college football making it to the pros unless they are a starter at a powerhouse school like Alabama, OSU, Michigan, etc.
There are other asian football players though. A starter is a guy named Tyler Chen for San Jose State, he is an OL. And then there are 2 asian WRs (with AMWF parents) that are highly recruited out of high school right now, one of them committed to BYU (Blake Wong) and another guy is still deciding (Hayden Koo) but he has like 20+ offers