Deuce Vaughn  |  Kansas State 5’5” 179 lbs.  |  11/02/2001 (21)

Deuce Vaughn was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the 14th Running Back and 212th overall player in the 2023 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

Vaughn burst onto the scene at Kansas State during his freshman season. Although he wasn’t used as the workhorse ball carrier during his 10 games played in 2020, the speedy back was uber-effective. He averaged over five yards per carry while leading the team in rushing yards (642), receiving yards (434), and receptions (25), as he found the endzone nine times. He really turned some heads during his sophomore season when he finished third in the Big 12 in rushing (1,404) behind only Abram Smith and Breece Hall. This past season, he ended up finishing second behind only Bijan Robinson in rushing yards in the conference (1,558). During his three seasons, Vaughn earned Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2020, served as a three-time Second-team All-Big 12, and ended his college career as a Unanimous All-American this past season. 

FILM

STRENGTHS

You won’t be able to touch him one-on-one in the open space. He’s shifty, as he displays elusive jump-cutting ability by bending at crisp angles. Since he’s smaller, he’s able to find gaps in tight spaces that don’t seem to be there. His contact balance is impeccable. Vaughn is also dynamic both as a rusher and receiver.

WEAKNESSES 

He’s VERY small. He isn’t built to take on blitz packages, as his measurables fall way under the normal level for his position in the pros. Although he’s durable, his size and weight don’t match up well at the pro level. Vaughn often hesitates when receiving carries initially, and he struggles to burst once he slows down to make a defender miss. 

ATHLETIC TESTING

At the NFL Combine, Vaughn measured in at 5’5” and 179 lbs. Which equates to a BMI of 29.8. Vaugh neglected to run a 40-yard dash at the Combine, but he did record a 35.5” vertical jump and a 9’8” broad jump, which is decent for his size. Vaughn also displayed a 118.4 burst score (48th percentile) and a college dominator score of 35.9 percent (84 percentile). He didn’t show any elite skills at the combine, but he’s known for his speed and agility, which wasn’t on display for us to judge. 

DRAFT ANALYSIS 

Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Excellent

Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Excellent

Vaughn was selected with the 212th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. 

Now that Ezekiel Elliott is gone, Tony Pollard will serve as the lead back for this team. Who does that leave behind him? Ronald Jones was brought in this offseason, and Malik Davis received opportunities last season. But there is a way that Vaughn carves out a prominent role in this offense right away. He’s too small to be a lead back, but he should be given ample amounts of opportunities to haul in passes out of the backfield and find more time on the field than Jones and Davis. 

FANTASY INSIGHTS

Think Tarik Cohen. If he can stay durable, he’s an easy running back to roster on your dynasty squads. Will he ever become a lead back? No. Will he be fantasy-relevant? Of course. He should serve as a viable pass-catching option for his new team, who can also come in and receive a few carries here and there. Don’t “overlook” his size. Vaughn will be a better fantasy running back than most people think. Surely, he’ll be drafted to dynasty rosters as a depth piece, but he should be drafted anywhere between the middle of the second round and the end of the third round in rookie drafts. In PPR leagues, Vaughn has the potential to serve as a consistent RB3 (top-36 or better) for years to come. 

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