Despite having Darrell Henderson Jr. and Malcolm Brown already on the roster, the Los Angeles Rams made the surprising decision to select Cam Akers with their top pick in the 2020 NFL draft. They grabbed him at 52nd overall, opting not to trade down and stockpile picks – a clear sign of their confidence in the Florida State product.
While he had an up-and-down rookie season that featured two separate injuries, Akers has firmly entrenched himself as the Rams’ workhorse back in the last few weeks. And after rushing for 131 yards against the Seahawks in the wild-card round, he’s made a name for himself.
Andrew Whitworth has watched Akers progress throughout the season and though it’s still early in the running back’s career, Whitworth strongly believes Cam is going to be a special player in the NFL.
“I really like him. Cam Akers is going to be a special football player,” he said on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday. “He’s a guy that didn’t really play in the same system that we’re running here and has adapted as the year has gone on and has learned a lot about being an NFL runner. It’s one of those things that just takes time and patience for those guys sometimes. I really think he’s done nothing but continue to grow every opp he’s had throughout this season and I think he’s going to be really special.
Akers is only a rookie, but he’s a confident young back. He was mic’d up against the Seahawks on Saturday and could be heard saying repeatedly, “This is easy!” after scoring a 5-yard touchdown. He also told Seahawks defenders, “Y’all haven’t tackled me one-on-one all day.”
That confidence is not lost on his teammates. Whitworth says just by watching him in the facility, he sees a motivated player. And as long as he stays healthy, Akers is going to have a terrific career, according to Whitworth.
“Just walking around the locker room, walking around the facility, he walks around like he’s a 1,000-yard back,” Whitworth said. “He just has a demeanor, an attitude, almost like a chip on his shoulder all the time about being a good football player. It really means a lot to him. He’s not just enjoying being in the NFL. And that’s something that sticks out when you’ve got a guy like that and has his skill set, you know that as long as they stay healthy, they’re going to have a great career and he’s going to be one of those guys.”
In the regular season, Akers rushed for 625 yards on 145 carries, a healthy average of 4.3 yards per carry. He also caught 11 passes for 123 yards, scoring three total touchdowns. Assuming he opens the 2021 season as the starter, he’s certainly in line for a 1,000-yard campaign in Year 2.
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