Devon Achane DRAFT PROFILE – 2023 NFL DRAFT

Devon Achane NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT INTRODUCTION

Devon Achane, the former Fort Bend Marshall High School student, was a 4-star recruit and joined the Texas A&M Aggies. As a freshman in 2020, he immediately made an impact, featuring in eight games and running for an impressive 364 yards on 43 attempts, with 4 TDs and no fumbles. In addition, he made five receptions for 97 yards.

Achane continued to develop and refine his skills, as was evident during his sophomore year in 2021, where he played in 12 games and rushed for 885 yards on 130 carries, achieving an impressive 6.8 yards per carry, with nine TDs and one fumble. He also demonstrated his versatility as a receiver, pulling in 24 receptions for 261 yards.

The following year, in 2022, Achane’s junior year, he saw action in 10 games for the Aggies and proved himself to be a vital component of their success. He ran for an impressive 1,100 yards on 196 attempts, with 8 TDs and one fumble, achieving a respectable 5.6 yards per carry. Furthermore, he continued to contribute in the passing game, making 36 receptions for 196 yards.

Achane’s talents extend beyond his ability to run and receive, as he also made 20 kick returns over his final two years of play, averaging 31.1 yards per return and contributing two more TDs to his already impressive tally.

 

Devon Achane DRAFT PROFILE

Devon Achane is a dynamic running back whose size belies his incredible talent. At just 5’9″ and 190 pounds, Achane is compact, shifty, and explosive, making him a constant threat to take it the distance on any given play. What sets Achane apart from other running backs is his elite top-end speed and acceleration, which makes it challenging for defenders to get a pursuit angle that would allow them to make a clean tackle.

Achane’s stop/start ability is lightning-fast, allowing him to quickly change directions and burst up the field. He forces his fair share of missed tackles in space with his shiftiness and acceleration, making him a challenge to bring down. Achane’s versatility is further highlighted by his impressive skill set as a receiving threat out of the backfield. He is a difficult cover for any linebacker, showcasing confident hands and elusive route-running skills.

Achane is a creative runner, demonstrating excellent vision, discipline, and patience. He remains balanced while stringing together moves, knowing precisely when to square up and get downhill. Achane has a nose for the end zone, with 88 career touchdowns on the ground and 22 receiving scores in high school. He has continued this success in college, returning 20 kicks and averaging more than 31 yards, taking two back for touchdowns.

However, there are concerns about Achane’s size and power in terms of moving piles and short-yardage situations. He has not proven to be an effective pass blocker, and he is often reluctant to do more than throw a shoulder at rushers. While Achane is a potent receiving threat, his production in college has been relatively modest, leaving some questions about his ability to contribute in the passing game at the next level.

Despite these concerns, Achane profiles as an explosive, complementary back in the NFL. He would work well in tandem with a more physical, downhill runner and can be an x-factor for an NFL offense looking to add speed out of the backfield. His ability to contribute as a pass-catcher will be critical to him claiming a prominent role in the offense, making more volume as a receiver in college crucial for his evaluation.

Overall, Achane’s combination of speed, agility, and versatility make him a valuable asset to any team looking to add a dynamic playmaker to their roster. While he may not have the size and power of other running backs, Achane’s ability to create explosive plays and his proven success in both high school and college make him a prospect worth watching in the upcoming NFL Draft.

 

Devon Achane 40 YARD DASH- 4.32 SECONDS

 

 

SCOUTING REPORT- STRENGTHS

Devon Achane is a running back with a unique combination of elusiveness, quickness, and speed. His initial burst is excellent, and he has very good long speed, making him a breakaway threat every time he touches the ball. Achane’s ability to turn the corner and accelerate smoothly, combined with his vision to cut or stop-and-start, makes him a challenging player to contain.

While Achane is known for his speed, he also possesses the toughness to attack the hole inside and uses his electric lateral agility to avoid defenders. He has improved as a receiver, adding to his already impressive skill set. His exceptional speed has earned him a spot on Bruce Feldman’s Freak’s List, ranked #35. Feldman noted that Achane is arguably the fastest man in college football, with big-time track credentials. Achane’s personal best in the 100m is 10.02, and he has run a 10.14 100m that was legal with a 1.8 mph wind, ranking as the 10th-fastest time in Texas A&M history. Achane has also clocked a 20.20 200m time, highlighting his exceptional speed.

Achane’s dazzling speed was on full display when he returned a kickoff for 96 yards midway through the third quarter in a win over No. 1 Alabama, helping him average a robust 33.4 yards per return on the season.

Beyond his speed, Achane also has excellent field vision, quickly identifying running lanes and exploding through them. He has the patience to wait until a hole opens up and doesn’t overrun his blockers, displaying good discipline and vision. While he may not have the size of other running backs, Achane is more solid than you would expect between the tackles, dropping his shoulders and keeping his legs moving to pick up additional yardage.

Achane is a unique and dynamic running back, blending exceptional speed with field vision, agility, and toughness. His contributions as a receiver make him even more valuable, while his ability to take it the distance on any given play makes him a constant threat to opposing defenses. As he continues to refine his skills and develop his abilities, it will be fascinating to see how he progresses at the college and NFL levels.

SCOUTING REPORT- WEAKNESSES

Devon Achane’s size has been a topic of concern for some evaluators. At just 5’9″ and 185lbs, there are questions about his ability to withstand the physical demands of playing running back in the NFL. However, it’s worth noting that Achane has proven to be a durable player throughout his high school and college careers. While he may not have the ideal size, his speed and agility more than compensate for his smaller stature.

One area where Achane could improve is his tendency to look for the big play, rather than picking his way through traffic. While his speed and elusiveness make him a dangerous player on the perimeter, he will need to demonstrate more patience and discipline as a runner at the next level. Achane has been known to run a lot of fly sweeps, which have allowed him to use his speed and agility to make defenders miss in the open field. However, he will need to develop a more well-rounded skill set to succeed as a traditional running back in the NFL.

Despite these concerns, Achane’s potential as a game-breaking playmaker is undeniable. He has shown the ability to take it the distance on any given play, and his contributions as a receiver make him an even more valuable asset to any offense. Achane’s versatility and explosive speed make him a unique and exciting prospect, and his success in both high school and college football is a testament to his natural talent and dedication to the game.

As he prepares to take his game to the next level, Achane will need to continue to refine his skills and develop his abilities as a runner. While his size may be a concern for some teams, his speed, agility, and versatility make him an intriguing prospect with the potential to make a significant impact in the NFL.

 

Devon Achane NFL DRAFT SUMMARY

Achane is a unique and dynamic running back, blending exceptional speed with field vision, agility, and toughness. His contributions as a receiver make him even more valuable, while his ability to take it the distance on any given play makes him a constant threat to opposing defenses. As he continues to refine his skills and develop his abilities, it will be fascinating to see how he progresses at the college and NFL levels.

He is our 55th ranked prospect on our draft big board.

Plus Side:

• Elite speed
• Great vision
• Big play possibility on every down

Negatives:

• Lack of size
• Overly agressive at times
• Could improve technique