30 Players in 30 Days #24 — Devon Achane

Position: Running Back
Classification: Freshman
Hometown: Missouri City, TX
Listed Height: 5-9
Listed Weight: 175

Key notes from Olin’s breakdown on Achane

• I am usually cautious with freshmen unless they're truly special, and I think Achane qualifies. He's got speed that we haven't seen here in for a long time. Sure, there are a lot of fast guys, but this guy is next level. He can and will run for Pat Henry.
   
• He catches the ball well too. He was a touchdown machine in high school. I saw him make an incredible play in the state championship game this year too.
   
• He's probably going to have to be a role player at running back because Isaiah Spiller and Ainias Smith are going to play. Achane will probably play a lot in the kick return game. I think he will be as dangerous in the kick return game as Jaylen Waddle at Alabama is at returning punts.
   
• A lot of the guys who are so fast are really fluid. They look like they're gliding. Achane is like that. He'll take a pitch and go for the corner. The linebacker will think he's got the angle. Achane has the ability to give you a faint move that is just enough to get you to bite, and then he's by you.
   
• He's not just a fast guy. He's a football player. We've had plenty of fast guys here who weren't good football players. He averaged over two touchdowns per game in high school in class 5A. He was the guy that everybody knew they needed to stop, and they still couldn't catch Devon Achane.
   
• I would suspect that this will be one of the grossest underestimations in recruiting history. Brauninger showed me his highlight tape and I immediately thought that he was the guy who the Aggies needed first. Now, I hadn't seen Demond Demas yet. Instead of "Achane," he should be "Ahchoo" because he's as fast as a sneeze!
   
• I think Achane will get a few carries and return a few kicks, but then I suspect they'll throwback to him a few times - a similar play to the one that Jashaun Corbin got hurt on. That same play with Achane will be much different because defenders will have such a tough time catching him.
   
• LSU beat Ohio State in 2007 with Trindon Holliday. He was 5-6 and scored a lot on kick return and certain packages. He did alright. He got drafted and played in the NFL. Holliday wasn't dominant, but he was dangerous and effective for a team that won the national championship. Achane is bigger than Holliday. Guys who talk about him being undersized are just trying to say they know more than they actually do. If you can play, you can play.

Follow the entire 30 Players in 30 Days series here.

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