2020 NFL Draft: Top 5 running backs entering 2019 season
By Cory Kinnan
3. Cam Akers, Florida State
2018 games watched: NIU, Miami, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Boston College
Height: 5-11
Weight: 210 pounds
Year: Junior
2018 statline:
706 yards rushing, 6 rushing touchdowns, 4.4 yards per carry
23 catches, 145 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 6.3 yards per catch
Strengths:
Cam Akers has great burst as he explodes through the open running lanes as he is a smooth runner. He can both hit holes quickly, but also gets to the edge with relative ease and beats defenders to the boundary.
His vision is one of the best in the class as he is able to sniff out holes, and given his previously mentioned burst, this makes him a lethal weapon to unleash on the ground. To pair with his vision is his decisiveness to hit the hole when he sees it, and wastes no time getting upfield.
Akers also has some of the best footwork in the class as he is able to snap off a defender in the open field without losing much speed, which he also has more than enough of. He also plays small with great pad level, making him efficient at darting through crowded holes.
Weaknesses:
For whatever reason, Akers can disappear from games at times and saw a drop in production from 2017 to last year. He has all of the tools, as I pound the table for him, but has to be a significant contributor for his team in 2019.
Pro Comparison: Lamar Miller (Houston Texans)