Three Aggies included in ESPN’s top 100 players for 2022
Texas A&M football was well represented on ESPN’s top 100 players list for the 2022 college football season. As one of the most anticipated annual rankings lists released each preseason, the selected players are coming off of stellar 2021 campaigns, and will play important roles for their teams in 2022.
For the Aggies, Running back Devon Achane, Defensive back Antonio Johnson, and Offensive guard Layden Robinson were all placed in the Top 100, all bringing a combination of speed, strength, and freaky athleticism that will continually aid in helping guide Texas A&M towards their goals in 2022.
At #58, here is ESPN’s brief description of what Devon Achane gives the Aggies every game day:
One of the SEC’s most electric offensive performers should take on a bigger role in Texas A&M’s offense this fall. Achane led the SEC in yards per rush (7) last season, and had 910 yards and nine touchdowns on only 130 carries. He can also help in the pass game after a 24-catch season
At #65, Antonio Johnson is coming off of a 79 tackle, 53 solo tackle season, and will be depended upon to bring to be the best defender on the field each week. Here’s ESPN’s short summary:
Johnson started all 13 games for Texas A&M in 2021 as a sophomore. He was second on the Aggies’ defense with 79 tackles. He earned AP All-SEC second team recognition. Johnson is on the preseason watch list for the Thorpe Award.
At #76, Layden Robinson is one of the offensive leaders this season and the most senior member of a talented offensive line for the Aggies. Coming off of a 2021 season where he only allowed 4 pressures on 311 pass-block snaps, Robinson is destined for his best season yet. Here is ESPN’s take on the Junor starting right guard:
He earned second-team All-SEC honors last season and will lead an experienced group of interior linemen for the Aggies. Mel Kiper Jr. rates Robinson as the top draft-eligible guard for 2023. The 6-4, 330-pound junior started all 10 games he played last fall. He’s an elite run blocker who could help the Aggie offense take the next step.
As the preseason honors continue to pour in for all three players, we’re all looking forward to the season kicking off on September 3rd to finally watch them shine on the gridiron.
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Going into the 2022 football season, Aggies Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas A&M roster.
Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Jimbo Fisher this season.
Devon Achane is entering his junior season at the running back position for Texas A&M, coming into the 2022 season with a chip on his shoulder in his first season slated as the starter in the backfield. Achane has rapidly become one of the most lethal players on the field since his first carry in the 2020 season, exhibiting a rare combination of elite speed, quickness, and vision, and is a scoring threat every time he touches the ball. Coming out of Missouri City, Texas, Jimbo Fisher was extremely high on the young all-purpose back, knowing his true potential before a number of Power 5 schools became interested later in the recruiting process.
Achane’s high school stats are otherworldly, to say the least, and as the starting running back and wide receiver for Fort Bend Marshall, he rushed for 4,823 yards and 88 touchdowns in his career, while rushing for 2,266 yards and 40 touchdowns with a 141.6 yard per game average during his senior season. As a receiver, Achane hauled in 96 receptions 2,004 yards, and 22 touchdowns, with 38 receptions, 768 yards, and 10 touchdowns during his senior season. After committing to Texas A&M over the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Auburn, he went on to appear in 8 games during the 2020 season, rushing for 364 yards on 43 carries for 4 touchdowns, adding 5 receptions for 97 yards and 1 touchdown while playing behind running back Isaiah Spiller. During the 2021 season, Achane began to truly ascend, sharing carries with Spiller while also returning kickoffs on special teams. He went on to rush for 910 yards on 130 carries for 9 touchdowns, averaging 7 yards per carry, while becoming the 50th Aggie in history to rush for 1000 yards in their career after tallying 98 yards on 10 carries in the win over No. 12 Auburn. He also increased his receiving total to 261 yards on 24 receptions and 1 touchdown.
Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: Missouri City, Texas
Height: 5-9
Weight: 185lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking
Class of 2020: 4-Star Player ranking, 21st ranked player in Texas, No. 4 ranked All Purpose Back in the country
Career Stats
Year
G
Att
Yards
YPA
Rec
Yards
Total TDs
2020
8
43
364
8.5
5
97
5
2021
12
130
910
7.0
24
261
10
PFF Rankings (Team Rankings)
Year
Offense
Run
Rcvg
2020
85.9
86.6
73.7
2021
90.3
91.0
80.5
Depth Chart Overview
Devon Achane is the starting running back in Texas A&M’s pro-style offense led by head coach Jimbo Fisher, and offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey. Achane is listed as the first team running back, with Amari Daniels (Sophomore) and LJ Johnson Jr. (Redshirt Freshman) as his primary backups.
From a scouting perspective, Devon Achane is one of the most electric players in the country and has practically every desirable trait for a running back, while NFL scouts continue to drool over his future potential in the league. Standing at 5-9, 185 lbs, he has put on solid weight after two seasons with the program, coming into the 2020 season at 170lbs. Achane’s game is centered around his elite speed, acceleration, and agility which has been aided by his time in track and field with the Aggies, earning numerous accolades and placing #3 for the Indoor 60m and #4 for the Outdoor 200m this season. His stop/start ability due to his advanced footwork enables his cuts to be effective at a high rate paired with his impressive change of direction, as even the most athletic defenders will have a tough time in their pursuit due to his quick burst as he makes his move in the open field. As a receiver, Achane is a nightmare for linebackers and safeties, displaying excellent instincts as a route runner, and is an instant threat on wheel routes on any down. He shows great hands and solid body control after the catch, and will only get better as a receiver after the 2022 season, where his reliance in the area will only become more vital. Devon Achane is slated to have his best season yet and is perhaps the most important offensive player this season for Texas A&M. The September 3rd opener cannot get here soon enough folks.
Players’ Photo Gallery
Sep 18, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) in action during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the New Mexico Lobos at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsOct 16, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) runs against Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Darius Robinson (6) during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY SportsSep 18, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) scores a touchdown during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the New Mexico Lobos at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsOct 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 SportsNov 13, 2021; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) runs the ball against the Mississippi Rebels during the fourth quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY SportsDec 5, 2020; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) gets past Auburn Tigers defenders during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY SportsNov 20, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) runs the ball during the first half against the Prairie View Am Panthers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Aggies RB Devon Achane is set for a monster 2022 season.
Star running back, Devon Achane, has been added to the Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list – an award given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. This is Achane’s third selection to a major award preseason watch list for the 2022 College Football season (see Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award).
This will be the Paul Hornung Award’s thirteenth recipient, created and successfully launched in 2010 by the Louisville Sports Commission to honor its namesake and native son, in addition to promoting game-changing performances by versatile players who may remain “under the radar.” The award’s watch list was constructed by a panel of college football experts based on statistics, career performances, 2022 expectations and SID recommendations. In addition to preseason watch list selections, Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll winners – regular-season recognition for game-changing, versatile performances – will also be eligible to win the award.
The Aggies are nearing one month until their season-opener, on Saturday, September 3rd, versus Sam Houston at Kyle Field.
Devon Achane included in the Doak Walker watchlist
The 2022 Texas A&M football roster is star-studded at a number of key positions, but the one name that jumps out the most in any conversation is starting running back for the Aggies, Devon Achane. Whether it’s his blazing fast speed, incredibly quick feet, or monk-like patience in the backfield, Achane is on pace to have his best statistical season yet in his first season as the starter. After being named to the Maxwell Award watchlist on Monday, Achane was just named to the prestigious Doak Walker Award watchlist, and the preseason honors continue to stack up.
Coming out of Fort Bend Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas, Achane won the Touchdown Club of Houston Offensive Player of the Year award after his 2019 senior season after rushing for 2,262 yards and 40 rushing touchdowns, and 800 yards receiving with 10 receiving touchdowns. Ranked as the No.1 All-Purpose back in the 2019 recruiting class, Achane signed with the Aggies and made an immediate impact in his first season with 364 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground.
In 2021, Achane began to emerge as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in college football, recording 910 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground, combined with 261 receiving yards on the season. As the presumed focal point of the offense while running behind what should be one of the better offensive lines in the country, look for the speedster to begin his Heisman campaign as soon as the opener on September 3rd.
The Houston Texans’ running back stable is still pretty old, but Texas A&M RB Devon Achane could provide some more youth.
The Houston Texans turned to youth to bolster their running back corps in the 2022 NFL draft.
The Texans selected fourth-rounder Dameon Pierce from Florida. The 5-10, 215-pound bruiser is expected to give the Texans welcomed production that comes with adding fresh legs to a backfield.
Projecting forward, the Texans’ running back stable is still pretty old when Rex Burkhead, 32, and Marlon Mack, 26, are factored in. The Texans may still need to add younger backs to the roster in 2023.
Enter Texas A&M running back Devon Achane. According to Michael Renner, the blur from Missouri City ranks No. 17 on Pro Football Focus’ list of draft prospects from the SEC.
Achane is the fastest running back in the country. Unlike most speedsters, though, he has some other tricks up his sleeve. He possesses tremendous contact balance and has broken 53 tackles on 173 career carries. But like most speedsters, Achane is undersized for the position. His listed 185 pounds is a tough sell for a starting running back at the next level.
The Texans don’t need Achane to be a feature back; they presumably have one in Pierce. They just need Achane to provide another dimension to the run game and give Pierce a reasonable partner in the backfield.
Isaiah Spiller was the dominant back for the Aggies in 2021 with 179 carries for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns. However, Achane had three more rushing touchdowns than Spiller, and was productive on the ground himself with 130 carries for 910 yards, a 7.0 yards per carry.
Given the ages of Burkhead and Mack, the Texans may be forced to get additional backs when building their 2023 roster. Rather than use capital in free agency to add more veterans, the Texans could use their munificent draft resources to invest in a younger running back stable.
Devon Achane has the chance to put up a monster 2022 season, that potential has earned him a spot on the Maxwell award watchlist.
On Monday morning, Aggies junior running back, Devon Achane was named to the 2022 Maxwell Award preseason watch list – the award presented to the best player in college football. This award has been presented to college football’s “Player of the Year” since 1937.
In 2021, Achane was an explosive weapon in the backfield, and as a receiver, all while being mostly a backup to Isaiah Spiller. Even with Spiller’s 1,000+ yard rushing campaign, Achane made and impact rushing for 943 yards on 130 carries – an outstanding 7.0 yards/rush and finished with a team-high nine rushing touchdowns. Achane was a weapon as a receiver and kick-returner, as well, combining for 261 receiving yards on 24 catches (10.88 yards/catch) and 301 kick-return yards on nine returns (33.44 yards/return), highlighted by a 98-yard kick-return touchdown in their win over top-ranked Alabama.
With Achane stepping into the RB1 role in 2022, look for his skillset to be further highlighted as he aims to become one of the nation’s most feared weapons – the first step into making this preseason watch list a November reality.
The Maxwell Football Club today announced its watch list for the 86th Maxwell Award presented annually to the outstanding player in college football. Check out who made the list here ⬇️
The SEC as a whole is seeing a lot of talented running backs exit following the 2021 campaign. Of the top 10 rushers last season, only four are set to play in 2022 with their original team.
The good news for Auburn is that two of the top backs returning for 2022 just happen to be on the current roster. They likely will need to have big campaigns to help prevent the outcome of 2021.
The 2021 leading rusher Tyler Badie of Missouri is off to the NFL, as well as the No. 3 player on the SEC rushing list Brian Robinson Jr of Alabama. We dive into the top five returns based on their production in 2021.
The SEC has embraced the pass-heavy offences that are sweeping the college football landscape but that has not prevented the conference from continued to have some of the best running backs in the country. That should once again be the case in 2022 as several running backs will be looking to build on previous seasons and several talented backs have transferred in from other conferences.
Here is an early look at every team’s leading rusher next season.
