CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN'S DRAFT TRADES
CAM AKERS
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
5-foot-10
215 pounds
20 years old
BIG PICTURE
A three-year contributor at Florida State and only 20 years old, Akers -- a former five-star recruit -- is a strong running back that can make tacklers miss, pass block and catch the ball out of the backfield. His yards per carry doesn't resemble that of college football's more electric backs, but he was also running behind an ineffective offensive line. Despite that, he still managed a pair of 1,000-yard seasons. May translate well to the NFL as a change-of-pace back.
COMBINE NOTABLES
4.47 40-yard dash (5th)
20 bench reps
35.5-inch vertical
122-inch broad jump
4.42 20-yard shuttle (2nd worst)
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
1 out of 5. Even if Dalvin Cook were to hold out, Minnesota still has Alexander Mattison, Mike Boone and Ameer Abdullah to pick up the slack.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Despite a disappointing win-loss record and a lack of blocking up front, Akers maintained a consistent level of play that represents his football character. He runs with tempo and flow but alters his rush track at a moment's notice when needed. He is elusive but lacking the instant burst of a slasher capable of stacking long runs in a single game. Akers has above-average open-field vision once he's into the second level and looks to run through the tackler's pads as a finisher. He's a three-down option with good feel for finding the crease near the goal line, but ball security needs to improve. He can be Leg 1 or 2 of a tandem rushing attack and is one of the more natural runners in the draft."
Jordan Reid, Draft Network: "Cam Akers is a dynamic and broadly built runner who’s had his fair share of highlight reel plays during his time in Tallahassee. Having to deal with so much turmoil during his career, he kept the spotlight off of him in a positive way. Positive because it allowed him to stay in the background and play well. What he was able to accomplish behind the Seminoles offensive line was remarkable. Being behind such a below average group prepared him for instant reactions when running in between the tackles. Akers ability to get skinny in holes in order to run through them combined with his play strength is the recipe that could help him turn into one of the better RBs in this class. There’s clear upside to be a starter right away, but his ball security and passing game involvement must improve."
WHAT PFF SAYS
Faced highest contact rate at or behind line of scrimmage since 2018
Pass-blocking grades of 86.4 and 72.2 last two seasons
76 missed tackles forced (T-7th)
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
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