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Texas A&M running back Devon Achane is one of the fastest players in this year's NFL Draft class at any position. In both his sophomore and junior years, he gained over 1,100 yards from scrimmage and scored double-digit touchdowns on the football field, and he placed in the top 25 in the nation in the 100-meter dash on the track.
Already considered a top five running back, Achane's stock could fly out of the gates at the NFL Combine. Looking at his 100-meter time, it seems likely that he will run the 40-yard dash in under 4.3 seconds.
Such a speed freak (#35 on Bruce Feldman's list) will be coveted by many NFL teams. Who will end up with Achane?
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What Did Devon Achane Do In His College Career?
In 2021, he led the SEC in yards per rush attempt with 7.0. He carried the ball 130 times for 910 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 261 yards and another score. He also made the men's track and field All-American first team as a member of the 4x100m relay team that finished first in the West Regionals and seventh at the NCAA Championships.
In 2022, his junior year, he ran for 1,102 yards on 196 carries, scoring eight rushing touchdowns, and adding 196 yards and three more touchdowns as a receiver. In both years, he scored a touchdown as a kick returner, and he averaged 30.7 yards per return in his career.
Not only does he have generational speed and agility, but he also has superb field vision. Once he finds the hole, no one can catch him. He is undersized, at 5’9” and 185 pounds, and he will get wrecked as a pass blocker, but he can take a hit better than most 185-pound half-backs.
After a somewhat slow start to his junior season, he kicked things up a notch in the fourth game of the season, rushing for over 100 yards in five of the final seven games, including 215 yards in A&M's upset of LSU.
Achane is not going to be an every-down back, but for a team that needs a home run threat in their committee, he could be a game-changer.
Which Team Could Pick Devon Achane In The 2023 NFL Draft?
Achane is projected to go in the second round. His stock had been falling--from overall No. 36 at the NFL Mock Draft Database to No. 135 in late January--but now he has risen to No. 59. Some teams that need running backs to share the load include the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions.
There is an impressive class of running backs available in free agency, so some teams might address their needs there, but many of those teams are seeing running backs leave in free agency and are not planning on spending on a veteran back.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel likes speedy running backs and brought Raheem Mostert in last season, but Mostert will be on the free agent market this offseason. Jeff Wilson Jr., Myles Gaskin, and Salvon Ahmed are scheduled to hit free agency, too, so the Dolphins need to build the position from scratch.
For the Broncos, Javonte Williams will return as the No. 1 RB, but he is recovering from an ACL tear, and the Broncos were splitting carries even when he was healthy. They got rid of Melvin Gordon last year, and Latavius Murray, Mike Boone, and Marlon Mack are free agents, so they also need help at the position.
Another great landing spot would be Dallas if Tony Pollard or Ezekiel Elliot leave. Like Pollard, Achane is a speedy, shifty back who can change direction on a dime.
While Achane is a beauty to watch, he might not be a fantasy star early on because he might get put as the No. 2 on a committee, but on some of these high-powered offenses, he could make an impact even with limited volume.
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