Devon Achane NFL Draft Scouting Report

RB, Texas A&M Aggies

A football and track star throughout high school and college, Devon Achane was a complementary back in 2020 and 2021 before taking over as the Aggies’ lead back in 2022 and was one of four running backs in the SEC to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards during the regular season. 

Achane is a compact, shifty, and explosive running back that is a threat to take it the distance on any play. He features elite top-end speed and acceleration that makes it difficult for defenders to get a pursuit angle that would allow them to arrive squared up and in a good position to make a tackle. Achane features lightning-fast stop/start ability that enables him to quickly change directions and explode up the field. Achane forces his share of missed tackles in space with his shiftiness and acceleration. He offers an appealing skill set as a receiving threat out of the backfield that is a difficult cover for any linebacker. Achane showcases confident hands and elusive route-running skills. He is a creative runner that mostly demonstrates good vision, discipline, and patience. He does well to remain balanced while stringing together moves and he knows when to square up and get downhill. For his career, Achane returned 20 kicks in college, averaging more than 31 yards and taking two back for touchdowns. He’s a big play waiting to happen and has done well to this point with ball security.

When it comes to concerns, Achane is a smaller back that is missing the power components of the position in terms of moving piles, short-yardage, and winning with power through contact. He has not proven to be an effective pass blocker and is often reluctant to do more than throw a shoulder at rushers. Achane is a potent receiving threat but his production has been fairly modest in college. At the next level, his ability to contribute as a pass-catcher will be critical to him claiming a prominent role in the offense, so more volume as a receiver in college would have been helpful for his evaluation. 

Achane profiles as an explosive, complementary back in the NFL that would work well in tandem with a more physical, downhill runner. For a team looking to add speed out of the backfield, Achane can be an x-factor for an NFL offense. 

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Big-play ability
• Elusiveness 
• Versatility 

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Size
• Pass blocking
• Power 

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 5′ 8 1/2”

Weight: 188 lbs

Arm Length: 29”

Hand Size: 8 1/2”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.32s

Vertical Jump: 33”

Broad Jump: 000”

Three-Cone: 0.00s

Bench Reps: 00 reps 

Ideal Role: Complementary satellite back 

Scheme Fit: Any

Prospect Comparison: LaMichael James (2012 NFL Draft) 

TDN Consensus Grade: 74.00/100 (Fourth-Round Value)

• Marino Grade: 74.00/100

Written By: Joe Marino

Exposures: Alabama (2021), South Carolina (2021), Ole Miss (2021), Alabama (2022), Mississippi State (2022), Arkansas (2022), Miami (2022)

Devon Achane NFL Draft Scouting Report. Add him to your big board here.