Deuce Vaughn, RB Kansas State: Offseason 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Vaughn was a three-star recruit from Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, Texas in the class of 2020

Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn is one of the most controversial prospects who could enter the 2023 NFL Draft. Some people look at the 5'6", 176 lb. Texas native and see a future star who defies usual size trends. Others see a late round selection who will struggle to overcome his physical limitations at the next level. The truth lies somewhere in the middle of those two polar extremes.

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Deuce Vaughn, RB Kansas State: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior running back from Round Rock, Texas

Background: Vaughn was a three-star recruit from Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, Texas in the class of 2020. He was the No. 1,235 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,190 for On3.com. Vaughn was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 75 grade out of 100. While in high school Vaughn amassed 5,472 career all-purpose yards and 50 touchdowns, including 4,405 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns to go along with 914 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air. He ran for 1,940 yards in his best high school season. Vaughn lettered in track and field three times. He has two sisters. His father (Christopher Vaughn) is an NFL scout for the Dallas Cowboys. The older Vaughn spent 18 seasons as a college assistant coach at Arkansas, Ole Miss, Memphis, and Texas, and he played collegiately at Murray State. Deuce was born on Nov. 2, 2001.

2021 Production: 13 games, 235 carries, 1,404 yards, 18 touchdowns + 49 receptions, 468 yards, 4 touchdowns

2020 Production: 10 games, 123 carries, 642 yards, 7 touchdowns + 25 receptions, 434 yards, 2 touchdowns + 7 kick returns, 145 yards

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2020 Second-Team All-Big 12, 2020 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (Coaches), 2020 Freshman All-American (The Athletic), 2021 First-Team All-Big 12, 2021 Consensus All-American (All-Purpose), Doak Walker Award Semifinalist (2021)

Pros: Only one fumble in college, production as a pass catcher dating back to high school, kick return experience, experience operating in the slot, small strike zone for defenders to hit, gets up field quickly, zips through small openings, usually identifies threats properly in pass protection, shows some elusiveness in the open field with a spin move and shifty footwork, patiently waits for running lanes to develop, displays shifty footwork and varies tempo to freeze defenders, reaches top speed quickly, good vision

Cons: He has such a small frame that he would be an outlier in the NFL, three drops in 2020 and 2021, averaged under three yards after contact in 2021, lacks the bulk to generate many yards after contact, solid hits and arm tackles bring him down, needs more urgency when leaking out of the backfield on delayed routes, lacks the mass to consistently hold up in pass protection, he’s elusive but not twitchy, could struggle to create between the tackles in the NFL, needs to diversify his route tree, not a true burner

Overview: Vaughn is unofficially listed at 5'6", 176 lbs. He generated 50 forced missed tackles in 2021, more than UTSA’s Sincere McCormick or Auburn’s Tank Bigsby. Vaughn is a shifty runner who relies on his acceleration, elusiveness, and vision to generate yardage when running between the tackles. However, he’s unlikely to continue his inside usage at the next level because his frame is a significant outlier by NFL standards. Vaughn’s greatest counter to his size concerns is his ability to produce as a pass catcher, which could create a pathway for him to play on third downs. The junior generates chunk plays as a receiver by getting in open space and pressing the accelerator. Vaughn doesn’t have high-end contact balance, and he gets brought down by most contact. He makes good reads in pass protection but often lacks the mass to actually block defenders.

Overall, Vaughn is one of college football’s most productive running backs, but he lacks the size to be a scheme-versatile player or a feature back at the NFL level. However, he possesses the receiving ability and athletic traits to see frequent action in the passing game.

Role & Scheme Fit: Rotational outside zone runner who sees 50+ targets per year

Round Projection: Mid Third to Early Fourth

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 07-19-22