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Cam Akers doesn’t care what he has to do, he just wants to help the Los Angeles Rams in any way he can.
The Rams drafted Akers in the second round at No. 52 overall, their first pick of the draft. It was a surprising selection for a team that had much greater needs than running back, but Akers is a physical runner, a hard worker and someone who can help the Rams immediately.
Going from college to the NFL will require an adjustment period, but Akers said he has his “big-boy pants on.”
“I’m looking forward to everything, in any way that I can, whether it’s blocking, running, catching, special teams – whatever I need to do. I got my big-boy pants on and I’m ready to do it,” Akers said after being drafted.
Akers has landed in a good situation with the Rams, considering how committed Sean McVay is to running the football. It may be a committee to start, with Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown also getting carries, but Akers will have a chance to contribute as a runner and receiver.
He’s a capable pass-catcher, but he wants to improve that aspect of his game – along with every other part. When asked where he can get better, he said “everything.”
“I don’t feel like any aspect of my game I’m where I need to be.”
What has Akers excited about playing for the Rams is the way McVay uses his running backs. He doesn’t pigeonhole players to specific roles, but allows them to do just about everything.
“The way they use their backs in the passing game, in the running game,” Akers said of why L.A. is a good spot for him. “I think they allow their backs to do everything. I think it would be good for any back, but thank God I’m in that situation.”
Akers will still have to earn his share of carries this summer in practice, but considering the Rams spent a second-round pick on him, he should be involved on offense fairly early in the process.
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