Football by Numbers Kansas State Wildcats

RB Rankings: Deuce Vaughn

February 1, 2022February 1, 2022 CFB Saturdays Staff

As we review the RB rankings players have had a chance to raise their stock and move up the rankings. Before we jump into Deuce Vaughn, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football RB Rankings here.

Kansas State, running back, Deuce Vaughn made an instant impact as a true freshman, then backed that up with a strong sophomore season in 2021. He continued to be a versatile weapon for the offense and was a more consistent running threat in his second year, closing the season with six straight 100 yard rushing games. For 2021, Vaughn rushed for 1,404 yards and 18 touchdowns on 235 carries while also catching 49 passes for 468 yards and 4 touchdowns. The electric back is the focal point of the Wildcats’ offense and is among the elite backs in college football.

Vaughn has elite change of direction ability. He has short area quickness that few players can match, changing directions on the drop of a dime as if he is controlled by a joystick. Vaughn accelerates as well as any back in the country and is gone before defenders have a chance to reset themselves. He cuts and weaves through the defense with a suddenness that is unique to him. He is tough to find in a crowd and has a knack for finding open space where he is a tough ask to tackle one on one.

What the 5’6″ 173 lb Vaughn lacks in size, he makes up for with his versatility. He forces the defense to account for him not only as a runner, but also as a threat in the passing game. Vaughn gets open with ease and is sure handed like a receiver. He led the team in receptions and receiving touchdowns, proving to be nearly impossible for defenses to match-up with in the passing game. Vaughn forces defenses to cover him with smaller quicker players in the passing game, but that creates favorable match-ups for the offense in the run game, putting the defense in a catch-22.

Deuce Vaughn is an excellent running back who has proven he can lead the way for the offense on the ground. He has excellent speed and quickness, but also runs with surprising power for his size. He is an all-purpose weapon who creates mismatches for the offense as a receiver. Vaughn is a difficult player to scheme against, creating an offensive advantage for his team against most defenses. His skill set and performance to date shows that he is one of the top running backs in the country.

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