SE: Appreciating This Moment and More to Come for Vaughn
Sep 20, 2021 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
For now, let's remember Deuce Vaughn is a sophomore, and understand that he, while blessed with jitterbug moves, and eagerness to run between tackles, and all-around ability that we haven't seen at Kansas State in two decades, is still scratching out his path — and what could come.
The 19-year-old took center stage again with 23 carries for a career-high 127 yards and one touchdown in a 38-17 win over Nevada on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Afterward, he takes center stage during postgame interviews and assumes his familiar spot at a wood podium, standing in front of a familiar purple tarp backdrop, and wearing a purple long-sleeved t-shirt with a white "K-STATE" printed upon his chest. The bill of his black Powercat ballcap somewhat conceals his eyes, as if one of the most recognizable faces in Manhattan is still somewhat cloaked in mystery.
"I'm so thankful coming to K-State coming to this program," he begins. "All of these people around me, they've embraced me, and they've taken me a long way."
Vaughn thanks K-State head coach Chris Klieman, he thanks running backs coach Brian Anderson, he thanks his offensive line, the tight ends and fullbacks, and the wide receivers for their downfield blocking to help him reach this point in the journey.
Early in the fourth quarter against Nevada, as K-State reaches the red zone, Vaughn takes a handoff and darts through the middle of the offensive line for nine yards. On the very next play, Vaughn kicks it out to the K-State sideline and goes for eight yards.
The first run gives Vaughn his fifth-consecutive game with at least 100 rushing yards. He becomes the first K-State player since Darren Sproles in 2003 to reach that mark. The second run gives Vaughn 1,000 career rushing yards. He's the fourth fastest in K-State history in terms of games played to do so. It took Vaughn just 13 games to do what Sproles did in 14 and what Alex Barnes did in 20.
"That's 100% humbling," Vaughn says, "just to be mentioned in a sentence with Darren Sproles."
So, let's pause for a moment and cheer for the 5-foot-6, 172-pounder from Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, whose ever-present smile is always the size of his home state of Texas. Let's applaud that Vaughn currently ranks fifth among Power 5 conference players this season with 371 total rushing yards and ranks sixth among Power 5 players in averaging 123.67 rushing yards per game. Let's acknowledge that he leads the Big 12 Conference in total rushing yards, average rushing yards per game, and he is tied for first with five rushing touchdowns.
"I told everybody before the season," Klieman says, "he's an underrated running back."
Let's thank Chris and Marquette for trusting K-State with their son, for Chris telling Deuce at an early age that his size was his "super power," for instilling confidence and humility into Deuce, and for teaching him that "football is like an ATM machine — you can only withdraw what you deposit," and lets thank Deuce for all of those early mornings when he left the house to lift weights and run before his parents fumbled for their alarms.
Let's also listen to the words of Cedar Ridge High School head coach Sam Robinson, who saw Vaughn record 5,472 career all-purpose yards and 50 touchdowns in his career, and quietly told one reporter prior to Vaughn's arrival in Manhattan: "Deuce is extremely rare."
Let's appreciate the gift that blossoms before our eyes each weekend, the chorus of "DEUUUUCCCE!" that rings throughout Bill Snyder Family Stadium and accompanies each and every step along this path that seemingly knows no end, and the spin moves, yes, the spin moves that conjure the ghosts of No. 43 dancing around, sending off-balance would-be tacklers stumbling, fumbling and finally falling in the face of his slicing cuts and inexplicable grace.
Almost every team from the Southeastern Conference, the Big 12 Conference, the Big Ten Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pac-12 Conference — the doubters —motivate Vaughn today. Heck, the University of Texas passed on a gem living in a suburb 30 minutes from Austin.
"You're always going to have that chip on your shoulder whenever you play this game, especially when you're 5-foot-6 and a lot of guys tell you, 'Hey, you can't play for our program because we don't see you fitting in,'" Vaughn says. "That's something I've always carried with me. It's never vengeance, it's just a little added motivation to go out here and play the best that I can."
A year ago, Vaughn was named 2020 Freshman of the Year by 247Sports and Freshman All-American by The Athletic and Football Writers Association of America after rushing for 642 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 25 catches for 434 yards and two touchdowns, and returning seven kickoffs 145 yards — leading the Wildcats in rushing yards, receiving yards and all-purpose yards (1,221). He became the first K-State true freshman in the Big 12 era dating to 1996 to earn first- or second-team All-Big 12 honors while setting K-State freshman records with 642 rushing yards, 1,076 total yards from scrimmage and 1,221 all-purpose yards.
After just a few practices, Klieman called him "a home-run hitter."
And now, Vaughn is off to another hot start.
"I knew I wanted to be a really good football player," he says. "I didn't know the timetable for when it was going to happen. I knew I wanted to play on Saturdays. I knew I wanted to be there with my teammates. I was going to take whatever role I could get on the field with these guys and do my best whenever my name was called.
"I started making a couple of plays and I said, 'OK, this is my role and I'm going to pour into it.' Now that I've been asked to be a leader this year, I'm pouring myself into that. Anything that's asked of me I'm going to pour into it every single day."
K-State, 3-0, prepares to open its Big 12 season at Oklahoma State, and the Wildcats are ranked No. 25 the Associated Press Poll for the first time this season and ESPN writes: "A big reason for Kansas State's 3-0 start: running back Deuce Vaughn."
"People think he's a terrific scat kind of kid out of the backfield and some jet sweep guy," Klieman says. "We've seen it for a little over a year — he's a terrific between-the-tackles runner. He's a powerful guy with a low center of gravity and he finds a way to get tough yards. I've seen it since he's been here. I think people are probably now saying, 'Yeah, this kid can be an every-down back.'"
If you believe the father, the high school coach and the college coach, this is poised to be an unbelievable ride. K-State students will yell "DEUUUUCCCE!" for a few more years on fall Saturdays, and as leaves in the Flint Hills wilt under cooler temperatures, Vaughn's impact might further take root, much like his idols — Barry Sanders and Sproles — before him many years ago.
"I just want to continue to run the ball hard," Vaughn says after slaying Nevada. "As far as upside goes, I'm not really looking ahead, I'm just making sure when I get back on Monday, I'm ready for Oklahoma State. I'm just working to make sure I continue to run the football as hard as I can.
"Of course, it's not something I can take credit for. When I rush for 100 yards, we've all rushed for 100 yards."
There was a moment that Deuce might never forget. Chris Vaughn, a scout for the Dallas Cowboys was attending the 2020 NFL Combine when he ran into a familiar face — Sproles. He told Sproles about his son, an undersized running back who had just committed to K-State. Sproles smiled, paused, and FaceTimed with Chris' son to welcome him into the K-State family.
It marked the initial introduction between the legend and the prodigy, adjoined by their size and K-State football, yet at the time still a world apart.
Today their names are locked in the same sentence by virtue of an individual achievement.
Appreciate this moment, K-State fans. And every moment to come.
For now, let's remember Deuce Vaughn is a sophomore, and understand that he, while blessed with jitterbug moves, and eagerness to run between tackles, and all-around ability that we haven't seen at Kansas State in two decades, is still scratching out his path — and what could come.
The 19-year-old took center stage again with 23 carries for a career-high 127 yards and one touchdown in a 38-17 win over Nevada on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Afterward, he takes center stage during postgame interviews and assumes his familiar spot at a wood podium, standing in front of a familiar purple tarp backdrop, and wearing a purple long-sleeved t-shirt with a white "K-STATE" printed upon his chest. The bill of his black Powercat ballcap somewhat conceals his eyes, as if one of the most recognizable faces in Manhattan is still somewhat cloaked in mystery.
"I'm so thankful coming to K-State coming to this program," he begins. "All of these people around me, they've embraced me, and they've taken me a long way."
Vaughn thanks K-State head coach Chris Klieman, he thanks running backs coach Brian Anderson, he thanks his offensive line, the tight ends and fullbacks, and the wide receivers for their downfield blocking to help him reach this point in the journey.
Early in the fourth quarter against Nevada, as K-State reaches the red zone, Vaughn takes a handoff and darts through the middle of the offensive line for nine yards. On the very next play, Vaughn kicks it out to the K-State sideline and goes for eight yards.
The first run gives Vaughn his fifth-consecutive game with at least 100 rushing yards. He becomes the first K-State player since Darren Sproles in 2003 to reach that mark. The second run gives Vaughn 1,000 career rushing yards. He's the fourth fastest in K-State history in terms of games played to do so. It took Vaughn just 13 games to do what Sproles did in 14 and what Alex Barnes did in 20.
"That's 100% humbling," Vaughn says, "just to be mentioned in a sentence with Darren Sproles."
So, let's pause for a moment and cheer for the 5-foot-6, 172-pounder from Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, whose ever-present smile is always the size of his home state of Texas. Let's applaud that Vaughn currently ranks fifth among Power 5 conference players this season with 371 total rushing yards and ranks sixth among Power 5 players in averaging 123.67 rushing yards per game. Let's acknowledge that he leads the Big 12 Conference in total rushing yards, average rushing yards per game, and he is tied for first with five rushing touchdowns.
"I told everybody before the season," Klieman says, "he's an underrated running back."
Let's thank Chris and Marquette for trusting K-State with their son, for Chris telling Deuce at an early age that his size was his "super power," for instilling confidence and humility into Deuce, and for teaching him that "football is like an ATM machine — you can only withdraw what you deposit," and lets thank Deuce for all of those early mornings when he left the house to lift weights and run before his parents fumbled for their alarms.
Let's also listen to the words of Cedar Ridge High School head coach Sam Robinson, who saw Vaughn record 5,472 career all-purpose yards and 50 touchdowns in his career, and quietly told one reporter prior to Vaughn's arrival in Manhattan: "Deuce is extremely rare."
Let's appreciate the gift that blossoms before our eyes each weekend, the chorus of "DEUUUUCCCE!" that rings throughout Bill Snyder Family Stadium and accompanies each and every step along this path that seemingly knows no end, and the spin moves, yes, the spin moves that conjure the ghosts of No. 43 dancing around, sending off-balance would-be tacklers stumbling, fumbling and finally falling in the face of his slicing cuts and inexplicable grace.
Almost every team from the Southeastern Conference, the Big 12 Conference, the Big Ten Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pac-12 Conference — the doubters —motivate Vaughn today. Heck, the University of Texas passed on a gem living in a suburb 30 minutes from Austin.
"You're always going to have that chip on your shoulder whenever you play this game, especially when you're 5-foot-6 and a lot of guys tell you, 'Hey, you can't play for our program because we don't see you fitting in,'" Vaughn says. "That's something I've always carried with me. It's never vengeance, it's just a little added motivation to go out here and play the best that I can."
A year ago, Vaughn was named 2020 Freshman of the Year by 247Sports and Freshman All-American by The Athletic and Football Writers Association of America after rushing for 642 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 25 catches for 434 yards and two touchdowns, and returning seven kickoffs 145 yards — leading the Wildcats in rushing yards, receiving yards and all-purpose yards (1,221). He became the first K-State true freshman in the Big 12 era dating to 1996 to earn first- or second-team All-Big 12 honors while setting K-State freshman records with 642 rushing yards, 1,076 total yards from scrimmage and 1,221 all-purpose yards.
After just a few practices, Klieman called him "a home-run hitter."
And now, Vaughn is off to another hot start.
"I knew I wanted to be a really good football player," he says. "I didn't know the timetable for when it was going to happen. I knew I wanted to play on Saturdays. I knew I wanted to be there with my teammates. I was going to take whatever role I could get on the field with these guys and do my best whenever my name was called.
"I started making a couple of plays and I said, 'OK, this is my role and I'm going to pour into it.' Now that I've been asked to be a leader this year, I'm pouring myself into that. Anything that's asked of me I'm going to pour into it every single day."
K-State, 3-0, prepares to open its Big 12 season at Oklahoma State, and the Wildcats are ranked No. 25 the Associated Press Poll for the first time this season and ESPN writes: "A big reason for Kansas State's 3-0 start: running back Deuce Vaughn."
"People think he's a terrific scat kind of kid out of the backfield and some jet sweep guy," Klieman says. "We've seen it for a little over a year — he's a terrific between-the-tackles runner. He's a powerful guy with a low center of gravity and he finds a way to get tough yards. I've seen it since he's been here. I think people are probably now saying, 'Yeah, this kid can be an every-down back.'"
If you believe the father, the high school coach and the college coach, this is poised to be an unbelievable ride. K-State students will yell "DEUUUUCCCE!" for a few more years on fall Saturdays, and as leaves in the Flint Hills wilt under cooler temperatures, Vaughn's impact might further take root, much like his idols — Barry Sanders and Sproles — before him many years ago.
"I just want to continue to run the ball hard," Vaughn says after slaying Nevada. "As far as upside goes, I'm not really looking ahead, I'm just making sure when I get back on Monday, I'm ready for Oklahoma State. I'm just working to make sure I continue to run the football as hard as I can.
"Of course, it's not something I can take credit for. When I rush for 100 yards, we've all rushed for 100 yards."
There was a moment that Deuce might never forget. Chris Vaughn, a scout for the Dallas Cowboys was attending the 2020 NFL Combine when he ran into a familiar face — Sproles. He told Sproles about his son, an undersized running back who had just committed to K-State. Sproles smiled, paused, and FaceTimed with Chris' son to welcome him into the K-State family.
It marked the initial introduction between the legend and the prodigy, adjoined by their size and K-State football, yet at the time still a world apart.
Today their names are locked in the same sentence by virtue of an individual achievement.
Appreciate this moment, K-State fans. And every moment to come.
Players Mentioned
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