Aggies 'Excited' For Running Back Room Entering 2023 Season

While De'Von Achane is gone, the Aggies like their tailback siutuation heading into the new year.

Even back when he was splitting reps with Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher couldn't help but gush over the running style of De'Von Achane. 

"He’s a three-down, he can block, he can run between the tackles," Fisher said following A&M's Pro Day in March. "That’s the underestimated thing about him, you don’t realize how strong he is and his natural balance and body control. Everybody sees him as a track guy, but if you ever watch him, he runs with great patience." 

Achane did it all for the Aggies last season. He totaled over 53 percent of A&M's workload on the ground. He made headlines in the receiving game, between the tackles and on special teams as the Aggies' return man. And when Spiller left for the pros, Achane picked up where he left off, finishing with over 1,400 total scrimmage yards on the 5-7 campaign. 

The Aggies aren't looking for a new running back. They're replacing a do-it-all weapon that terrorized teams on Saturdays the second he arrived in College Station. The good news? A&M likes its depth at the position, even though reps were scarce a season ago. 

"They can run it," Fisher said Monday at SEC media days at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tenn. "They can split out. They have power, speed, and they have breakaway speed, and they're strong. I think it's a very good room." 

Fisher, who enters his sixth season with the Aggies, probably will allow every runner to have a chance to carve out playing time this fall. Outside of Achane, no rusher finished with more than 40 total carries. 

Based on production, junior Amari Daniels likely gets the first crack at expanding his rep count. He was the Aggies' change-of-pace runner behind Achane, often coming in every third drive or so to keep the defense on its toes and second-guessing the play. 

But just because Daniels has been on campus for two years doesn't guarantee he'll see the predominant first-team reps, as the Aggies could have niche duties for each tailback.  

Senior Earnest Crownover, sophomore Le'Veon Moss, and highly-touted freshman Rueben Owens are all competing for starting reps entering fall camp. Every prospect provides a uniqueness to the offense, though the characteristics are similar. 

"All those guys have size," said Fisher. "They have power."

Questions surrounding the offense heading into August are on the play-caller rather than the personnel. Fisher praised the maturity of sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman and mentioned how he was "excited for his bright future." The offensive line returns seven players with starting reps, giving the roster ample depth. 

At receiver, Weigman — or redshirt junior Max Johnson should he beat the latter outright — will have a cast of varying options to help him prosper. Senior Ainias Smith returns in the slot. Moose Muhammad III and Evan Stewart should command the outside. At tight end, A&M has the keen veteran eye of Max Wright and the hyper-athletic Donovan Green returning for double-tight personnel looks. 

What's missing? Backfield depth - something Fisher thinks would have been there with better circumstances last season.

"Their production is based off they were behind Achane in some situations and we weren't as productive on offense to have the number of at-bats and things we needed a year ago," Fisher said. "But those guys can play, and I look forward – I think it's a very talented room." 

Owens, a former top recruit initially committed to Louisville, has everything Fisher is looking for in a workhorse runner. The former El Campo star has proven his value as a dominant force on the ground, rushing for 1,781 yards and 25 touchdowns during his senior season. 

Moss has home run speed similar to Achane, but a bit more size to his frame. Expect him to fill Daniels' role as the change-up runner on drives. Daniels, meanwhile, should see action to set the tone early after averaging 5.6 yards per play last season. 

Crownover should be the go-to target at the goal line. Since joining the Aggies, he's added more weight and transitioned into a fullback rather than a full-fledged runner. No one's complaining if Crownover gets carries, so long as it leads to scoring. 

A solid run game could force opponents to crowd the box. If that happens, Smith is excited to see where the offense is headed. 

“Everybody is going to be open, let’s just say that,” Smith said. “Everybody is going to be open – most definitely.”

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