2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Deuce Vaughn (RB – Kansas State)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Deuce Vaughn.

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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Deuce Vaughn (RB – Kansas St.)

Deuce Vaughn (RB – Kansas St.)

5’6″ – 176 lbs.

Background:

Split carries with Harry Trotter and quarterback Will Howard as a freshman, finishing with 123-642-7 (5.2) and adding 25-434-2 receiving. Took over the feature back role the following year and went 234-1,409-18 (6.0) with 49-468-4 receiving in his most efficient season, then totaled 293-1,558-9 (5.3) and 42-378-3 this past year before declaring.

Positives:

Highly productive back who’s shown that he can carry the load. Shows solid knee bend and a low pad level. Runs with patience and shows impressive burst when a hole opens. Has clean footwork behind the line of scrimmage and shows impressive suddenness to make defenders miss when he gets into space. Works well in congestion. Shows some ability to pinball off of contact and pick up additional yardage. Runs with determination and strong leg drive, doing a better job of pushing the pile than anticipated. Was trusted with goal-line carries and proved himself to be a solid finisher. Has excellent ball security, with just two career fumbles. Experienced receiver who was a big part of his team’s passing game, occasionally motioning out to the slot as well, often making himself available for screens in package plays; can be a threat down the field as well, running wheel routes down the sideline. Willing to stick his nose in and take on blockers, albeit not always with form; also led the way in the running game at times.

Negatives:

Frame is very small for a pro back, and some teams may have concerns about the amount of tread he’s accumulated. Able to fall forward at the end of his runs, but probably won’t break many tackles at the next level. Contact balance as a blocker is about what you’d expect given his size; willing to deliver blows, but often gets the worse of the exchange. Doesn’t present his quarterback with a big target in the passing game, so may need to play with a passer who has precise ball placement.

Summary:

One of the most productive backs in the class, and who runs with patience, burst, suddenness, and a surprising amount of power for a player with his frame, having been a bigger part of his team’s passing game than many of his peers in the class. However, although he plays bigger than his size, is much smaller than usual for a pro running back, which will likely limit him to a third-down/change-of-pace role at the next level. Should come off the board in the mid-rounds.

Projection: Round 4-5