The NFL has a new champion at the top of the Hill and teams will be looking at the next generation of athletes at the 2023 NFL combine to help unseat the Chief next season. The combine is a great place for a lot of these young men to raise their draft stock or as some would say “earn some extra cash”. A skilled player can jump a whole round if their 40-time clocks in around 4.3. The one thing you can’t teach is raw speed.
Among the 319 invitees, Texas A&M will be represented by three Aggies at this year’s Annual NFL Scouting Combine:
Devon Achane – The speedster only needed a little bit of space to rip off a long run and was rarely if ever caught from behind. He split time in his first two years with the Aggies before taking over his junior year and receiving a majority of the snaps at tailback. For his career, he amassed 2,930 yards from scrimmage and 26 touchdowns, but running back was not the only position where he shined. Achane’s speed and vision made him a threat on Kick returns as well with him averaging over 30 yards a return with 2 touchdowns on only 20 attempts. One of his most memorable plays was his kick return against the #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in 2021 to swing the momentum back in the Aggies’ favor. He recently stated he is looking to run around a 4.2 in the 40-yard dash and is projected to be drafted between rounds 2 – 4.
Antonio Johnson – The 6-3 200-pound safety missed a few games due to injury last season but still managed to help bring much-needed stability to an extremely young defense playing in a new system. His junior campaign was not quite as good as his sophomore year, but there were a lot of factors that contributed to that minimal drop-off. During his time on the field, However, you could still tell he belonged among the top players in the SEC. His best traits that have the NFL really intrigued are his size, physicality, and football IQ. With more athletic Tight ends and bigger slot receivers becoming commonplace in the league the need for a fourth defensive back that can cover and not be a liability in the run game is paramount. Johnson can fill this role perfectly and has the tools to be successful. His career numbers stand at 164 Total Tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 interception. Currently, Antonio Johnson is projected between rounds 1-2.
Jaylon Jones – He is a big explosive corner with a very high ceiling. Jones was a part of one of the better Secondary groups in the country and his coverage skills played a major role. Granted, he is a better zone corner compared to a man corner yet still has the physical abilities to play both at a high level. Jones will have to do some studying and will hopefully be paired with a coach that is good at developing cornerbacks so he can reach that next level. He ended his career at Texas A&M with 98 Tackles, 3 Interceptions, and 17 passes defended. Jaylon Jones is currently projected between rounds 1-2.
Check out the Official Site of the NFL to view the Combine schedule so you can want these Aggies to try to raise their draft stock.
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