The Miami Dolphins added another talented running back to an already deep room on Friday, as they selected Texas A&M’s Devon Achane with pick No. 84, in the third round.
Achane joins Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed in a group coached by long-time NFL coach Eric Studesville. With his skill set, he may be able to find a role in 2023, but, if not, Gaskin and Ahmed are free agents in 2024, opening up touches for Achane.
On Friday night, Achane took some time to meet virtually with the South Florida media and answered questions about his collegiate career and future with the Dolphins.
Here’s everything the former Aggie said:
On pre-draft talks with Dolphins:
“It was great. Like you said, I met with them a couple times. I took a visit there. One of my 30 visits was to Miami and like you said, interacted with some of the players, some of the coaches. Coach Mike McDaniel, he’s a great coach, great man all the way around. He wants to use me in his offense and so I was glad that they picked me.”
On joining a high-powered offense:
“It’s going to be a real scary offense. Like you said, we’re all pretty fast. I feel like it’s going to be very competitive at practice and like you said, Coach McDaniel – when I had that talk with him, he was saying that he planned on building the fastest team in the NFL. So by adding me to that piece, that’s something that’s, like that’s a guarantee. So it’s going to be real fun and competitive at practice. I just can’t wait to get there.”
On being an Orange Bowl MVP and now playing at Hard Rock Stadium:
“I wouldn’t say I thought I was wishing this, but like I said, when I played at the Hard Rock Stadium for the first time, I was voted MVP so hopefully I can keep that going. And I’m just happy and blessed that I’m able to come out there in Miami and just be down there. I’m just happy that I’m in his offense – Coach McDaniel’s offense. He’s a great coach and I feel like with my ability, he knows what to do with it.”
On his visit with Dolphins:
“It was great. Like you said, I went around the building, the facility. It was nice. When I came down there, it was a little rainy, so I guess it was a little luck that I came down there on that day. Everybody was saying it really doesn’t rain down here, but it still was a pretty fun visit. Me and Jaylen Waddle, we’re really good friends. We communicate, so I feel like me being there and the visit that I took and the interactions with the coaches were great as well. So I just feel like I was able to be myself and I was very, very comfortable.”
On his relationship with WR Jaylen Waddle:
“We knew each other since when I was in high school and he was in high school. We both played for AAU basketball … when we were little, so I’ve kind of known him for some time.”
On how he can help the Dolphins:
“Like you said, I’m a very unique player. I have a very unique skillset. I feel like I can do a lot. I can be at running back. I can line up at receiver and they also might want to use me on special teams, so I feel like me having all those good abilities, I feel like it’s hard for a defense to be able to cover us when we’ve already got threats that are already on the team. I just feel like me getting added to this offense is very scary.”
On running between the tackles:
“Yes, sir. I feel like I can run between the tackles, outside. Like when I was at A&M, I feel like most of my runs were in between the tackles. Everybody sees me as the fastest guy, so they think he just wants to run outside, but most of my runs and my touchdowns were in between the tackles so I feel like I can run anywhere. If the ball is in my hands, I feel like I’m capable to do great things with it and me running in between the tackles is not a problem that I have.”
On meeting Mike McDaniel:
“It was great, man. He’s a great coach, got a funny sense of humor. He always keeps you on your toes. I’m a very fast guy so he will come up and ask me like a funny question like, ‘are you still fast?’ He’s just a great coach all the way around. So me, having a coach such as him, I feel like I’m just thankful and blessed that he’s my coach and I can’t wait to get out there and just see what he has in store for me.”
On the value of a running back:
“I feel like you said, a lot of people think that running backs won’t get paid a lot. Like you said, it’s an example of this past draft – two running backs got drafted really early in the first round. Where I came from at A&M, my coach always said, ‘Running backs, we start with the energy that we need,’ so when we’re going, I feel like the whole team is going. So if you have a great running back and a good running game, I feel like you excite the team.”
On Jimbo Fisher:
“He’s a great coach. I was happy to be able to be under him for three years. He taught me a lot. We all had that relationship with him that we could talk about football, and we talk about real life, and he always kept it 100 with me. He always kept it real. That was something I liked about him. He never lied to me. I feel like we had a relationship where if I needed something or if there was something I needed an answer to, he was able to give me that. So man, just learning from him, he always said, ‘People are going to … but as long as you’ve got the confidence and the mentality that I have and you’re confident in yourself, you can go out there and do whatever you want.’ He always told me, ‘People are going to have their opinions on you on social media.’ He always told me, ‘Don’t worry about social media, just go out there and play and do what you do.’”
On being the first Aggie drafted in 2023:
“I’m very thankful to be the first Aggie off the board. I’m just excited. I’m rooting for my other two brothers that are Aggies as well. I was very excited when I had my name called. I have friends and a big family that’s supporting me right now, and I was thankful to be able to achieve my dreams. For me to have my family and friends behind me, I obviously was very excited in the moment. I’m just thankful that I was able to make my mom proud.”
