Kansas State University Athletics
Vaughn Still Improving after All-American Season
Aug 11, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State All-American Deuce Vaughn looks faster.
At least that's what running backs coach Brian Anderson indicated during a media opportunity with reporters following a fall camp practice on Wednesday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
And that could mean more headaches for defenses in the fall.
"He's put on really good weight and he had a really good offseason in the weight room," Anderson said. "Our whole team has gotten faster, and he's one of those guys who's done that."
Vaughn, listed at 5-foot-6 and 176 pounds, is considered by Pro Football Focus to be the top returning running back in the Football Bowl Subdivision heading into the 2022 season, and he is listed in The Athletics' "Way Too Early" Big 12 Conference top NFL prospects.
Vaughn is on watch lists for the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, and the Doak Walker Award while also garnering preseason mention for the Heisman Trophy.
He earned Consensus All-American honors last season and capped his sophomore season with a four-touchdown effort in the Wildcats' victory over LSU in the TaxAct Texas Bowl.
"He does it all," Anderson said. "I've never had a guy who's been the complete package. And he's so smart. That's the thing that sometimes goes unnoticed. He can see things before it happens because he studies so much."
Vaughn finished last season sixth in all-purpose yards per game (144.0), ninth in rushing yards (1,404) and rushing yards per game (108.0), and fourth in total touchdowns (22). He ranked No. 1 among Power 5 players with 59 touches that went for 10 or more yards (20.8% of 284 total touches).
His nine games with 100 rushing yards were the most in school history by any player not named Darren Sproles.
His 49 catches for 468 yards and four touchdowns also led the Wildcats last fall.
"Definitely when he's on the field he's a problem," Anderson said.
Anderson said that Vaughn is "a constant pro."
"His preparation is amazing," Anderson said. "The way he works, the way he takes care of his body, everything is working toward an ultimate goal. Every day this summer when I was in town we'd spend time together and watch film. He's calling me wanting more. It's just a process of how he handles everything and how he looks at everything. Every single day it's a process and he's enjoying the process right now."
Although Vaughn could be faster than a year ago, first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein has placed an emphasis on finding different ways to get the football to one of the nation's most dangerous players, understanding that stopping No. 22 — regardless of his speed — will likely be the top priority for defenses.
"We're going to move Deuce around," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said at his initial fall camp news conference on Monday. "Everybody is going to know where he is at and game plan for him, so we need to be creative in how we get him the football.
"Collin and the offensive staff have done a really nice job through four or five practices finding different ways. We've done a really nice job early on of just showing different looks and then motioning him or shifting him to different spots where all the sudden you have a bad matchup."
Anderson echoed those sentiments.
"We're just trying to find other ways to get him the ball in space, but he does such a great job of running between tackles because he has great vision," Anderson said. "We don't want to take too much away from him getting the ball out in the open because we like running him between tackles."
K-State's offense will get its first chance to show some new wrinkles with Vaughn when it opens the season against South Dakota on September 3.
"Every week, I'm always looking at different things, maybe college, maybe NFL, in how people are using their better players," Anderson said.
Kansas State All-American Deuce Vaughn looks faster.
At least that's what running backs coach Brian Anderson indicated during a media opportunity with reporters following a fall camp practice on Wednesday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
And that could mean more headaches for defenses in the fall.
"He's put on really good weight and he had a really good offseason in the weight room," Anderson said. "Our whole team has gotten faster, and he's one of those guys who's done that."
Vaughn, listed at 5-foot-6 and 176 pounds, is considered by Pro Football Focus to be the top returning running back in the Football Bowl Subdivision heading into the 2022 season, and he is listed in The Athletics' "Way Too Early" Big 12 Conference top NFL prospects.
Vaughn is on watch lists for the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, and the Doak Walker Award while also garnering preseason mention for the Heisman Trophy.
He earned Consensus All-American honors last season and capped his sophomore season with a four-touchdown effort in the Wildcats' victory over LSU in the TaxAct Texas Bowl.
"He does it all," Anderson said. "I've never had a guy who's been the complete package. And he's so smart. That's the thing that sometimes goes unnoticed. He can see things before it happens because he studies so much."
Vaughn finished last season sixth in all-purpose yards per game (144.0), ninth in rushing yards (1,404) and rushing yards per game (108.0), and fourth in total touchdowns (22). He ranked No. 1 among Power 5 players with 59 touches that went for 10 or more yards (20.8% of 284 total touches).
His nine games with 100 rushing yards were the most in school history by any player not named Darren Sproles.
His 49 catches for 468 yards and four touchdowns also led the Wildcats last fall.
"Definitely when he's on the field he's a problem," Anderson said.
Anderson said that Vaughn is "a constant pro."
"His preparation is amazing," Anderson said. "The way he works, the way he takes care of his body, everything is working toward an ultimate goal. Every day this summer when I was in town we'd spend time together and watch film. He's calling me wanting more. It's just a process of how he handles everything and how he looks at everything. Every single day it's a process and he's enjoying the process right now."
Although Vaughn could be faster than a year ago, first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein has placed an emphasis on finding different ways to get the football to one of the nation's most dangerous players, understanding that stopping No. 22 — regardless of his speed — will likely be the top priority for defenses.
"We're going to move Deuce around," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said at his initial fall camp news conference on Monday. "Everybody is going to know where he is at and game plan for him, so we need to be creative in how we get him the football.
"Collin and the offensive staff have done a really nice job through four or five practices finding different ways. We've done a really nice job early on of just showing different looks and then motioning him or shifting him to different spots where all the sudden you have a bad matchup."
Anderson echoed those sentiments.
"We're just trying to find other ways to get him the ball in space, but he does such a great job of running between tackles because he has great vision," Anderson said. "We don't want to take too much away from him getting the ball out in the open because we like running him between tackles."
K-State's offense will get its first chance to show some new wrinkles with Vaughn when it opens the season against South Dakota on September 3.
"Every week, I'm always looking at different things, maybe college, maybe NFL, in how people are using their better players," Anderson said.
Players Mentioned
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