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Texas A&M Football: Top 5 prospects for 2023 NFL Draft

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 16, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) celebrates with wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) after scoring a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) celebrates with wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) after scoring a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the third quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the third quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports /

I’m going to go on record right now saying that I truly believe Devon Achane could be one of the first running backs taken in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Achane found a way to star in the backfield behind Isaiah Spiller this season and any time you can put up nearly 1,000 rushing yards while backing up an NFL rusher, you know you’re pretty good.

The talented back will now take over as the clear starter in the backfield with Spiller getting drafted and that means he’s going to improve on his numbers for a third straight season. He had 364 yards and four touchdowns on an incredible 8.5 yards per touch as a freshman in 2020 and then broke out in a big way with 910 yards and nine touchdowns on 7.0 yards per carry while backing up Spiller in 2021. And he added 24 catches for 261 yards and a score.

Achane had nearly 1,200 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns as a backup running back and he’s probably going to be one of the favorites for the Doak Walker Award in 2022.

Two running backs went early in the second round this year and I could see Achane being in that range next draft.