Aggie De'Von Achane 'Surprise Standout' Of Dolphins Offseason?

De'Von Achane could end up being one of the top rookie talibacks by the season's end.

De'Von Achane blew past defenders toward the end zone for three years at Texas A&M. Expect similar results in the NFL by the end of his rookie season.

Achane, the No. 84 pick in April's draft, has already begun honing in on the nuances of Mike McDaniel's offense with the Miami Dolphins. While the Dolphins followed the "running back by committee" approach last season, each runner has a specific purpose.

According to ESPN, Achane's predominant role early on could be on passing downs and vertical situations. Then again, should Achane continue to blossom throughout training camp, perhaps McDaniel views him as the team's lead back come Week 1.

The rookie third-round pick has already looked like one of the Dolphins' more explosive offensive players -- although his practice production should be taken with a grain of salt until the pads go on. Even in non-padded team drills, Achane showed prowess as a pass-catcher and home run ability after the catch. It's a crowded running back room in Miami, but it may not be long before the rookie has a prominent role. -- ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques

Speed has been a selling point in South Beach the previous two seasons. A year after drafting former Alabama standout Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins swung big by adding All-Pro receiver and speed demon Tyreek Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Miami also features Raheem Mostert and Myles Gaskins, two tailbacks known for their open-field speed. The Dolphins also have been linked to Miami native and Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook, though talks have ceased since his release earlier this month.

Achane, a former first-team All-SEC runner, seems to be building a rapport with Hill and Waddle. Waddle and Achane grew up in Houston and played against one another in AAU basketball during their high school days.

Last month, Waddle mentioned that Achane's impact was felt during OTAs and minicamp not because of his speed, but rather his attitude.

“You can see it in practice," Waddle said. "You can see it in the way he goes about meetings, just his work ethic. Having a great guy in the locker room and an explosive player on the field is obviously going to help us a lot."

Hill, often considered the fastest player in the NFL, mentioned how Achane's natural talents could carve him out reps with a productive summer.

“He’s another special player that we added this year. I’m very excited to see what he brings to this offense,” Hill said. “So far, he’s been looking really good with his speed and the way he’s able to catch the ball out of the backfield. So far, I’m very impressed.”

---

Subscribe to the Texas A&M Aggies Daily Blitz Podcast!

Follow AllAggies.com on Facebook and Twitter!

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Aggies? Click Here to Subscribe to the All Aggies Newsletter

Want even more Texas A&M Aggies News? Check out the SI.com team page here