Tag: devon achane

Raheem Mostert makes his case that he’s the fastest Dolphins player

Tyreek Hill’s speed is legendary, but Raheem Mostert says he’s faster.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s electric speed has made him one of the biggest stars of the NFL and earned him the nickname “Cheetah.” But Raheem Mostert says Hill isn’t even the fastest player on the Dolphins’ roster.

“You’re looking at him,” Mostert said on a podcast with Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead. “That’s me. I’m taking that title. I’m the fastest.”

It’s a bold claim on a team with not only Hill, but wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back De’Von Achane too.

“We argue all the time,” Mostert said. “Everybody goes back off of track, but I’ve got that too. I’m a three-time Big Ten champ, I made national championships twice.”

It’s true. Before the former Purdue running back put down a 4.34 40-yard dash at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, Mostert won Big Ten titles in the 60m, 100m, and 200m with the Boilermakers.

But Hill reportedly ran a 4.29 40 at his pro day before the 2016 NFL draft and Achane ran a 4.32 at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. And even Mostert can’t help but admit that Hill does things on the football field that are hard to explain.

“When we traded for him and he gets on the team, like the first day, this man hit like a slant and go and the way he ran, bro, out of there. I’m like ‘Oh yeah, no he’s a glitch,'” Mostert said. “Like, he has his back turned against the defender, he catches the ball and instantly he’s already ready to do a double up move. … It makes no sense.”

Evidently, seeing Hill’s speed in person didn’t settle the debate and a friendly competition started instead.

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3 Dolphins who should have bigger roles in 2024

A few young Dolphins should have larger roles in 2024.

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has put together a talented roster loaded with superstar veterans and rising youngsters that was good enough to make the postseason in 2023.

While Grier will have his work cut out for him over the next several months through free agency and draft season, there are some players on the roster who should see their playing time go up next year.

Let’s take a look at three Dolphins who should get more opportunities in 2024.

Five Aggies that deserve to be on the cover of EA Sports’ NCAA Football game

Ahead of the new NCAA Football video game release this summer, here are five Texas A&M players that deserve to grace the cover.

Thursday morning’s announcement that EA Sports will release the new NCAA Football video game this coming summer led to every college football fan in the country going absolutely bizark on social media.

Why the widespread excitement? EA Sports was forced to stop production on the game after their last released installment in 2013 due to issues stemming from early NIL-related issues, specifically player likeness for players who were reprinted in the name, despite being nameless on each roster.

Since then, Texas A&M has won 86 games game in the last 10 seasons, and while legendary quarterback Johnny Manziel’s Heisman-winning campaign came after the 2012 season, he was still highly productive during his final 2013 campaign, while star wide receiver Mike Evans had his best season as an Aggie yet.

While Manziel and Evans stand out as the Aggie studs of the last decade, several players on offense and defense have placed their names in the Texas A&M record books, and if the game had been released every year since then, several deserved a shot to be on the cover.

With that, here are five Aggies who should be in the running for the newest NCAA Football cover.

PFF names De’Von Achane an early breakout candidate for Dolphins in 2024

Miami’s rookie running back is being picked to breakout in his second season.

The Miami Dolphins 2023 rookie class was pretty quiet with two of their four draft picks not making the team and second-round selection Cam Smith not playing much at all.

However, running back De’Von Achane, Miami’s third-round pick out of Texas A&M shined in his rookie season, as the former Aggie totaled 800 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on an incredible 7.8 yards per carry. He also added another 197 yards and three scores on 27 receptions.

The most impressive aspect of Achane’s first year in the NFL is that he did all of that in just 11 games.

Heading into his second season, Achane has been selected by Pro Football Focus as the Dolphins’ breakout candidate for 2024.

Here’s what PFF’s Jonathon Macri had to say about Achane:

“There’s an argument to be made that Achane’s rookie season was a breakout after posting over 800 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. However, Achane did this on just 119 offensive snaps (49th) across 11 games in the regular season while also playing behind Raheem Mostert. Mostert is still scheduled to be with the team in 2023 but will be 32 years old and could handle a lighter workload, especially considering how efficient Achane was with his touches. A larger workload and a full season could equal a true breakout season for the 2023 third-round pick, even if he doesn’t maintain his historic 7.9 yards per carry.”

As Macri said, Achane’s rookie season could be called a breakout, and it’s certainly worthy of that title. However, if he can stay healthy in 2024, he can be a game-changer for Miami’s already potent offense. After watching his work in just 11 games, it’s not unrealistic to say that if he plays close to a full season, Achane could be in the conversation for Offensive Player of the Year.

If you believe that Achane has already broken out, there are certainly other candidates. Smith could be one after playing just 20 defensive snaps as a rookie. Channing Tindall and Erik Ezukanma, two picks from their 2022 class, could be others, as they enter their third seasons in the NFL which is when many show signs of improvement.

Aggies alumni duo of De’Von Achane and Antonio Johnson headline NFL All-Rookie Team

Last month, NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks selected his NFL All-Rookie Team and two former Aggies and current Florida residents made the list.

Last month, NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks selected his All-Rookie Team and two former Texas A&M football players made the list.

Both alumni are current Florida men, with one residing up in the north while the other is deep down south. Those two players are Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane and Jacksonville Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson.

Achane was picked in the third round at No. 84 overall.

“Despite playing behind a prolific point scorer (Raheem Mostert, who led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns), Achane made his mark as a home run hitter in the lineup,” Brooks wrote. “The rookie averaged almost eight yards per carry (7.8) and scored 11 total touchdowns as a gadget/reverse playmaker with speed to burn.”

Johnson was a fifth-round pick at No. 160 overall.

“Like Brian Branch, Johnson spent a lot of time defending the slot, but I had to squeeze him onto this roster. Sue me,” Brooks wrote. “After taking over as the nickel defender in Jacksonville’s sub-packages, Johnson flashed the instincts, awareness and ball skills that had some scouts smitten with his potential during the pre-draft process. With a pair of interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble in a part-time role, the lengthy defensive back could flourish with more opportunities in 2024.”

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

4 things that went right for the Dolphins in 2023

Some things that went right for the Dolphins this past year.

The Miami Dolphins completed their second season under head coach Mike McDaniel with an 11-6 regular-season record and a wild-card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs to end their playoff hopes.

While Miami may not have accomplished everything they would’ve liked to in 2023, they still did have some impressive showings up and down both the roster and coaching staff.

As we reflect on the year that was, let’s take a quick look at four things that went right for the Dolphins during their 2023 campaign.

Grading the Dolphins running backs after their 2023 season

A look at how Miami’s RBs performed this year.

The Miami Dolphins finished their 2023 campaign with an 11-6 record and made the postseason for the second time in as many years under head coach Mike McDaniel. Unfortunately, it came to an end with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round.

While other teams are in the midst of their playoff run, it’s time to do some reflecting on the team in South Florida.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be reviewing and evaluating different positions for the Dolphins in 2023. Today, we’ll look at the running backs.

Best Photos: Aggies in the 2023 NFL Playoffs – Divisional Round

Here are the best photos from Aggies playing in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs

The regular season ended, but Aggie Football is alive and well in the NFL playoffs. The divisonal card round has concluded, and we will list what Aggies have moved on to the next round, giving A&M fans multiple teams to cheer for. The rings true if you don’t follow NFL football or if your team is already in offseason mode.

And then there were four. The 2023 NFL playoffs started with 18 players or coaches littered throughout each conference. The following list will show which Aggies will still be in action next weekend.

Ravens:

DL Justin Madubuike

Lions:

WR Josh Reynolds

DC Aaron Glenn

HC Dan Campbell

Below, you can check out some of the best photos from the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

WATCH: Dolphins RB De’Von Achane’s rookie highlights

10 minutes of highlights from the RB’s rookie year.

The Miami Dolphins 2023 rookie class only consisted of four players, and only two of them ended up making the final roster heading into the regular season.

Running back De’Von Achane was by far the most productive of Miami’s first-year players, as he rushed for 800 yards and eight touchdowns on an incredible 7.8 yards per carry while adding another 197 yards and three scores on 27 receptions. The most impressive context needed for those numbers is that he did it all in only 11 games.

The former Aggie probably won’t be named Offensive Rookie of the Year due to spectacular debut campaigns for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua. However, what he did should be remembered and appreciated.

Miami’s social media team put out a 10-minute highlight tape of Achane’s rookie year so fans could relive just how amazing he was.

Dolphins RB De’Von Achane cracks ESPN’s top-10 rookies from 2023

Where did Miami’s third-round pick land in ESPN’s top-10 rookies of 2023?

The Miami Dolphins didn’t make their first selection of the 2023 NFL draft until the second round, but it was their third-round pick that really shined as a rookie.

At No. 84 overall, Miami selected Texas A&M running back De’Von Achane to join a running back room that, at the time, featured returning running backs Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed. The Dolphins then also added another player to the group in Chris Brooks as an undrafted free agent.

While Mostert ended up being the team’s lead back and breaking the franchise’s record for both rushing and total touchdowns in a season, Achane’s brilliance shined in his opportunities.

In 11 games, the former Aggie rushed for 800 yards and eight touchdowns on an incredible 7.8 yards per attempt. He also added another 197 yards and three scores on 27 receptions.

That includes a game against the New England Patriots in Week 2 where he had two touches with the coaches acclimating him to the NFL and a battle against the Las Vegas Raiders where he only saw one touch due to injury.

With the end of the season upon us, ESPN has put out their rankings of top-10 rookies from the 2023 season, and Achane came in at No. 10.

Here’s what they had to say about the running back:

“The Dolphins’ third-rounder was one of the league’s most electric players when healthy, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. Achane also acquitted himself nicely as a receiving option out of the backfield, tying Robinson for the most receiving touchdowns by a rookie back (three).”

Ahead of Achane on this list were C.J. Stroud, Puka Nacua, Jalen Carter, Sam LaPorta, Devon Witherspoon, Will Anderson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and Jordan Addison.

Heading into 2024, Achane should be taking on a larger role in the offense, and if he stays on the field, he could be a candidate for the league’s Offensive Player of the Year aware.