A top 150 player out of high school according to 247, Texas A&M’s Devon Achane is no stranger to high expectations. But with his running mate, Isaiah Spiller, heading to the NFL, TAMU’s ground game will rely more on Achane.
Achane’s 2020 and 2021 season:
Coming into the 2020 season as a freshman, Achane wasn’t expected to get a lot of touches. Isaiah Spiller was named to the SEC all-freshman team after accumulating 946 yard and 10 TDs in 2019. However, in the limited carries he did receive in 2020, Achane displayed explosiveness. On 43 carries, he averaged 8.5 yards per rush and got in the end zone four times.
Achane’s burst, lateral quickness, and quick feet got him more carries the following year. In 2021, with QB Zach Calzada playing poorly, Achane still put up 7 yards per carry. He did this on 130 carries, three times as many as the previous year. Achane displayed his ability to run between the tackles, finding open cutting lanes to make a sudden move. In addition, he also showed his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. He caught 24 balls for 261 yards. His performance in 2021 has him projected as a day 2 draft pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
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2022 Outlook for Achane:
With Spiller now gone, Achane is likely to get the bulk of the carries for A&M next season. Also, expect to see more option plays with dual-threat Haynes King as the starting QB. Additionally, don’t be surprised if Achane is one of the Aggies leading receivers. With him on the field more, A&M could try to match him against linebackers and take advantage of the mismatch. He could also be a larger part of the screen game and short passing game.
Achane’s ‘Christian McCaffrey’ type role could easily allow him to be the most productive RB in the SEC. If A&M performs to expectations this year, he will be in the Heisman discussion come November.