Devon Achane Draft Profile and Scouting Report

 

 

Devon Achane Scouting Report: Texas A&M Aggies, Running Back, #6

 

 

2023 NFL Draft Measurements

5’9″ / 185 lbs.

Devon Achane 40-Time – Estimated 4.25-4.30 range

 

 

Devon Achane Draft Profile

Achane is a former 4-star recruit out of Fort Bend Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas. 247sports had him ranked as the eighth-best player in the state of Texas. Some players that he was ranked behind were Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Drew Sanders, and Zach Evans. He was also ranked as the best all-purpose back in the nation out of the 2020 recruiting class. After seeing how fast he was in high school, it is not surprising that he was a highly recruited prospect. In high school, he ran 100 meters in 10.82 seconds and 200 meters in 20.69 seconds. Although he had offers from more “prestigious” programs, he only visited North Carolina and Texas A&M. After visiting Texas A&M, it was very clear that he wanted to play for the Aggies because he committed a week later.

In his freshman season with the Aggies, he split run snaps with Ainias Smith. In those limited snaps, he had 43 rushes for 364 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also had 5 receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. After this season of splitting snaps, Smith made the full transition to wide receiver and Achane became the full-time starter. During the 2021 season, he ran the ball 130 times for 910 yards and 9 touchdowns. Achane also had 24 receptions for 261 yards and a touchdown.

In his final season with the Aggies, he went out with a bang. He had 196 rushes for 1,102 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also showed his true potential as a receiving back because he had 36 receptions for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. Now that I have talked about his college career, I am excited to see what he can do at the NFL Scouting Combine.

 

Devon Achane Strengths

 

Speed

Devon Achane is one of the fastest football players in the nation. Regardless of where he is lined up, Achane can punish defenses with his speed. He has a very good burst that allows him to quickly reach his top speed after shooting through a gap in the line. If he gets to the 2nd level and is at his top speed, it is almost impossible to catch him. As I mentioned earlier, I predict that his 40-Time at the Combine will be from 4.25-4.30 seconds. He will be one of a handful of running backs to run a sub-4.30 if he is able to do so. This kind of big play potential allows him to be effective in any situation. When he gets drafted, he would be a perfect fit as a 3rd down running back.

 

Elusiveness

Not only is Achane difficult to catch up to in open space, but he is also very elusive. If the play in front of him begins to break down, he can quickly jump cut and take off in another direction. In the 2nd level, Achane can make defenders miss because of how elusive he is in open space. He has a very quick juke move that allows him to bait defenders into committing to the tackle. Once they do that, Achane can dodge the tackle and leave them in the dust.

 

Vision

Devon Achane shows incredible patience in the backfield. He lets his blockers get set and properly execute their blocks. Once he finds a lane, he is able to quickly take off down the field as I mentioned earlier. If the defense penetrates the blocks and applies pressure on him, he can quickly get creative and still gain yards. In the 2nd level, he can quickly read the defense and establish a plan to rack up yards. This vision also helps him to make defenders miss in open space.

 

Versatility

Throughout his career at Texas A&M, Achane has lined up all over the field. He has lined up in the backfield, as an X receiver, and as a Z receiver. His positional versatility is what made him so dangerous this past season. Although he often uses his body to help pull in throws, he can punish a defense regardless of the play call. This versatility is another reason why he would be a great 3rd down back in the NFL.

 

Devon Achane Weaknesses

 

Size and Strength

More often than not, when someone is as quick as Achane, they are often undersized compared to the NFL’s standards. Achane stands at 5’9″ and weighs only 185 lbs. This thin frame could make him very susceptible to consistent injuries in the NFL and could hinder his career timeline. It also hinders his ability to break tackles and extend plays after contact.

 

Pass Blocking

Achane is marginal at best when pass-blocking. His below-average size hinders his ability to hold his ground against pass rushers. This does not buy his QB extra time in the pocket and forces them to escape the pocket. He is also adequate at cut blocking. Achane has a tendency to attack too low on the defender’s legs. This allows them to shed his block and apply pressure on the QB.

 

Devon Achane Draft Stock

As of today, nflmockdraftdatabase has Devon Achane as the 58th-best prospect in the nation. Personally, I do not believe that Achane will go before the third round. But, I think his draft stock primarily depends on how he tests at the NFL Scouting Combine. If he can run a sub 4.30 40, he will shoot up draft boards. However, if he does not, he will likely be the first back taken in the 3rd round.

 

Final Thoughts on Devon Achane Scouting Report

Devon Achane is an elite-level athlete who can punish defenses all over the field. In the backfield, he shows good patience and vision to find a lane at the line. If a lane opens up, he can quickly accelerate and reach the 2nd level in the blink of an eye. From there he can use his blend of speed and elusiveness to take the ball to the endzone. When lined up as an X or Z receiver, Achane can quickly run his route and find a hole in the defense. Although he is not a natural hands catcher, he can definitely make plays in the passing game.

The only major concern that I have about Achane’s game is his lack of size. This can lead to him being injury prone in the NFL, which will hinder his duration in the league. It also makes him a liability when pass-blocking because he cannot hold his ground.

 

Devon Achane Player Comparison

Achane reminds me a lot of former Oregon running back De’Anthony Thomas. Both of these players are below the average size of an NFL back and use their bodies to help make catches. They also both have elite top-end speed and elusiveness to make defenders miss.

 

 

 

Devon Achane Scouting Report and Player Profile Analyst – Matthew Lewis