Early 2023 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings: Familiar Face At 1

5. Devon Achane, Texas A&M

Devon Achane (pronounced Ay-Chain) is a tantalizing prospect ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s likely the fastest running back in this class (his personal best in the 100-meter dash is 10.12), and that’s the main reason I put him on this list. Achane is projected to run a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, and he made a tremendous impact in a somewhat limited role (10.8 carries per game) last year. He was one of only two running backs in the country to average 7.0 yards per carry on 100 or more attempts last season. His straight-line speed is often the catalyst to him breaking off big runs.

Achane is small (5’9” 185), but he doesn’t play “light” if that makes sense. He’s not the strongest player, but he does run with determination, powering through arm tackles and pushing on when defenders don’t square him up when attempting to bring him down. Devon Achane has a little wiggle to his game, but he prefers to make defenders miss with his speed by running past them or around them. He’s a nightmare for defenses in the open field because he can simply put his foot in the ground, cut upfield, and be on his way to the end zone.

If all that wasn’t enough, Devon Achane averaged 10.9 yards per catch and 33.4 yards per kickoff return last year. Texas A&M kept finding creative ways to get the ball into Achane’s hands in space, and it stands to reason that NFL teams might try to do the same.  The modern day spread offenses in college and the NFL aim to stress defenses by forcing them to cover every blade of grass. Having a speed demon at running back like Devon Achane would be an incendiary weapon for any NFL offense to utilize, and it’s the main reason he’ll likely hear his name called on day two of the 2023 NFL Draft.