Miami Dolphins select Devon Achane in the third round, 84th overall

On Friday, Devon Achane became the highest-selected Texas A&M running back in the NFL Draft in 10 years.

Achane was taken in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 84th overall, by the Miami Dolphins. That’s the highest an A&M running back has been drafted since Christine Michael was chosen in the second round of the 2013 draft by Seattle.

Also, Leeland McElroy was chosen in the second round of the 1996 Draft, and Detron Smith was a third-round pick of the Denver Broncos in that year. Rodney Thomas was a third-round pick of the Houston Oilers in 1995.

Achane is the fourth A&M running back to be selected since 2019. Isaiah Spiller was a fourth-round choice of the San Diego Chargers in 2022. In 2019, Trayveon Williams was the sixth-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Cullen Gillaspia was a seventh-round selection of the Houston Texans.

A&M has not had a running back selected in the first round since Greg Hill was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1994.

The speedy Achane was among the fastest players in the NFL combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds.

Achane, who qualified for the United States Olympic Trials and earned All-American recognition in the 100m and 200m, rushed for 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

He totaled 2,376 career rushing yards, which is 17th on the Aggies’ all-time rushing chart. He rushed for 21 career touchdowns and averaged 6.4 yards per carry.

A four-star recruit out of Fort Bend Marshall in 2020, Achane also caught 65 passes for 554 yards and five touchdowns.

 On kickoff returns, Achane averaged 30.6 yards per return. He returned kickoffs for touchdowns against Alabama in 2021 and Appalachian State in 2022.

Achane distinguished himself in his freshman year. He rushed for 364 yards on 43 carries and scored four touchdowns.

He was named Most Valuable Player in A&M’s 41-27 Orange Bowl victory over North Carolina. Achane rushed for 140 yards and scored two touchdowns, including one on a 76-yard run, the longest of his career.

As a sophomore in 2021, Achane averaged seven yards per carry and rushed for 910 yards as a backup to Isaiah Spiller. Achane likely would have surpassed 1,000 yards if A&M’s Gator Bowl matchup with Wake Forest hadn’t been canceled.

Achane rushed for 1,102 yards in 2022 despite missing two games with injury. He exceeded 100 rushing yards in each of the final three games in which he played.

In his last game for A&M, he rushed for a career-high 215 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 38-23 victory over LSU.