Tyler makes the breaks

Whether playing tailback or linebacker, Marc Tyler of Westlake Village Oaks Christian created turmoil for opposing teams.

“There’s probably not a better two-way player in high school football,” Coach Bill Redell said.

Tyler, 6 feet 1, 215 pounds, was a big-play weapon waiting to be unleashed.

On offense, he rushed for 1,698 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. On defense, his aggressive tackling and ability to quickly cover ground made him indispensable.

Tyler has been selected the back of the year by The Times.

“He’s got all the ingredients,” Redell said. “He’s big, he’s fast, he’s powerful, he can catch the ball coming out of the backfield. He’s a guy who can do most anything.”

Tyler, the son of former UCLA and NFL running back Wendell Tyler, has committed to USC. He suffered a broken leg in Oaks Christian’s opening playoff game against Playa del Rey St. Bernard.

Selected Gatorade’s state player of the year, Tyler finished his high school career with 123 touchdowns.

The Lions went 15-0 and became the second team in state history to win 15 games.