Vaughn Shows Out in Next Step to NFL
Apr 03, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
He seemed to arrive and leave in a flash at the Kansas State Pro Day, the humble, soft-spoken, ultra-athletic Consensus All-American Deuce Vaughn, one of the finest players ever at Kansas State, and he made every moment count while sprinting and juking and jumping around cones and over pads in front of 32 NFL teams inside the Shamrock Practice Facility.
He was, well, Deuce, the same smiling versatile running back we've always known, the young man who grabbed purple hearts and the one we never wanted to let go after three wonderful years in Manhattan.
It's been three months since K-State won the Big 12 Championship Game and a little less than two months have passed since Vaughn played his final game in the Sugar Bowl, and less than a month has passed since he participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Time moves fast, but over these past few months, he's had time to reflect while also looking forward to each workout each day with the goal firmly in sight: A spot on a NFL roster.
"Really, since I was in the sixth grade," he said, "I wanted to do this."
Vaughn left behind a legendary K-State career. Just the 11th Consensus All-American in K-State history, Vaughn is the second all-time leading rusher in K-State history with 3,604 yards, trailing only College Football Hall-of-Famer Darren Sproles. He also ranked second with 651 rushing attempts and with 21 100-yard rushing performances and third with 5,029 all-purpose yards and 43 total touchdowns. He was just one of five FBS players since 1996 to record 3,600 rushing yards and 1,250 receiving yards in a career, and he did so in just 37 games.
"The people who've been at K-State, every person who's touched my heart, it's made these past three years the best of my life," he said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm so thankful I had this opportunity. That's why you choose K-State — for the memories."
Already, he's had formal interviews with approximately 11 NFL teams and he has had informal interviews with approximately 24 NFL teams, as well.
Vaughn, who declared for the NFL Draft two days after the Sugar Bowl, made headlines at the NFL Combine in early March because of his size. His 5-foot-5, 179-pound frame made him the shortest player ever at an NFL Combine. He recorded a 35 ½-inch vertical and a 9-foot, 8-inch broad jump, and he bench-pressed 225 pounds 17 times in Indianapolis.
"I feel like (size) is always going to be (the story)," Vaughn said. "I can't control that narrative, but it's always going to be there. It's always been there. It's never determined how I work or determined how I go about my business or determined how I step onto the football field. I'm super excited for this next step and I know everybody that's supported me and my support system throughout this entire journey is going to be there.
"It's not going to be an easy one but I'm super excited."
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote: "Despite the versatility, production and durability, teams might focus on his lack of size. However, he sees the field clearly, is fearless between the tackles, possesses quality contact balance and finds his way into the end zone as a runner and receiver. Vaughn has an uphill climb ahead of him, but his history of consistent, high-end production makes the climb to success seem achievable."
K-State Pro Day arrived with a curveball for the guy known for escaping defenders. He couldn't escape sinus infection.
"It was a little tension-filled," Vaughn said. "I was a little sick earlier in the week. I had a sinus infection and 101.5-degree fever, so it was a little tension-filled that I was actually able to come out and do this. But I felt pretty good enough to come today. Man, it's like a weight has been lifted now that it's over. So it's back to getting ready to play some football."
At K-State Pro Day, he ran fast in the 40. He ran the 40 just once while recovering from sickness so that he didn't run out of fuel for the other drills. He caught passes from former K-State quarterback Adrian Martinez, showing off his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, his deft route-running ability out of the backfield, and his soft hands that made him the top pass-catching running back in K-State history. Outside, he fielded punts amid 30-mile-per-hour wind gusts that swirled around Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"I wanted to showcase my route running and being able to catch the ball out of the backfield and outside," he said. "With punt returns, I wanted to be able to catch it, secure it, and bring it in. It was a little tough with the wind, but I feel that I did a pretty good job.
"Of course, you're going to have the narrative of the 40. I feel like everybody thought I'd do a good job at the cone drills. I wanted to come out here and run a good 40. I feel like I did that. I had a lot on my plate today, but I feel pretty good about it."
Vaughn received some professional advice from a willing mentor in Sproles, who ranks 13th in NFL history with 2,961 punt-return yards.
"The biggest thing that he told me was to be myself and to catch punts," Vaughn said. "He said that's going to be the easiest and fastest way onto the football field because not a lot of guys do it and not a lot of guys are good at it. It's one way to put yourself into space and show what you can do. That's been one of the biggest tips of advice.
"For the past three months, I've been catching punts almost every single day that I can. Now I'm getting comfortable with it. It's a way to get onto the football field."
As for what's next for Vaughn?
"Now you get to do some private workouts, so I'll be here in Manhattan for about another two weeks and you'll get to do more interviews and Zoom calls," he said, "but now you can get back to the fun part of working out for football to get ready for mini-camp and OTAs and playing football. I'm really excited for this next step."
He's eager for the journey.
He's been preparing for it virtually his entire life.
He seemed to arrive and leave in a flash at the Kansas State Pro Day, the humble, soft-spoken, ultra-athletic Consensus All-American Deuce Vaughn, one of the finest players ever at Kansas State, and he made every moment count while sprinting and juking and jumping around cones and over pads in front of 32 NFL teams inside the Shamrock Practice Facility.
He was, well, Deuce, the same smiling versatile running back we've always known, the young man who grabbed purple hearts and the one we never wanted to let go after three wonderful years in Manhattan.
It's been three months since K-State won the Big 12 Championship Game and a little less than two months have passed since Vaughn played his final game in the Sugar Bowl, and less than a month has passed since he participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Time moves fast, but over these past few months, he's had time to reflect while also looking forward to each workout each day with the goal firmly in sight: A spot on a NFL roster.
"Really, since I was in the sixth grade," he said, "I wanted to do this."
Vaughn left behind a legendary K-State career. Just the 11th Consensus All-American in K-State history, Vaughn is the second all-time leading rusher in K-State history with 3,604 yards, trailing only College Football Hall-of-Famer Darren Sproles. He also ranked second with 651 rushing attempts and with 21 100-yard rushing performances and third with 5,029 all-purpose yards and 43 total touchdowns. He was just one of five FBS players since 1996 to record 3,600 rushing yards and 1,250 receiving yards in a career, and he did so in just 37 games.
"The people who've been at K-State, every person who's touched my heart, it's made these past three years the best of my life," he said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm so thankful I had this opportunity. That's why you choose K-State — for the memories."
Already, he's had formal interviews with approximately 11 NFL teams and he has had informal interviews with approximately 24 NFL teams, as well.
Vaughn, who declared for the NFL Draft two days after the Sugar Bowl, made headlines at the NFL Combine in early March because of his size. His 5-foot-5, 179-pound frame made him the shortest player ever at an NFL Combine. He recorded a 35 ½-inch vertical and a 9-foot, 8-inch broad jump, and he bench-pressed 225 pounds 17 times in Indianapolis.
"I feel like (size) is always going to be (the story)," Vaughn said. "I can't control that narrative, but it's always going to be there. It's always been there. It's never determined how I work or determined how I go about my business or determined how I step onto the football field. I'm super excited for this next step and I know everybody that's supported me and my support system throughout this entire journey is going to be there.
"It's not going to be an easy one but I'm super excited."
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote: "Despite the versatility, production and durability, teams might focus on his lack of size. However, he sees the field clearly, is fearless between the tackles, possesses quality contact balance and finds his way into the end zone as a runner and receiver. Vaughn has an uphill climb ahead of him, but his history of consistent, high-end production makes the climb to success seem achievable."
K-State Pro Day arrived with a curveball for the guy known for escaping defenders. He couldn't escape sinus infection.
"It was a little tension-filled," Vaughn said. "I was a little sick earlier in the week. I had a sinus infection and 101.5-degree fever, so it was a little tension-filled that I was actually able to come out and do this. But I felt pretty good enough to come today. Man, it's like a weight has been lifted now that it's over. So it's back to getting ready to play some football."
At K-State Pro Day, he ran fast in the 40. He ran the 40 just once while recovering from sickness so that he didn't run out of fuel for the other drills. He caught passes from former K-State quarterback Adrian Martinez, showing off his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, his deft route-running ability out of the backfield, and his soft hands that made him the top pass-catching running back in K-State history. Outside, he fielded punts amid 30-mile-per-hour wind gusts that swirled around Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"I wanted to showcase my route running and being able to catch the ball out of the backfield and outside," he said. "With punt returns, I wanted to be able to catch it, secure it, and bring it in. It was a little tough with the wind, but I feel that I did a pretty good job.
"Of course, you're going to have the narrative of the 40. I feel like everybody thought I'd do a good job at the cone drills. I wanted to come out here and run a good 40. I feel like I did that. I had a lot on my plate today, but I feel pretty good about it."
Vaughn received some professional advice from a willing mentor in Sproles, who ranks 13th in NFL history with 2,961 punt-return yards.
"The biggest thing that he told me was to be myself and to catch punts," Vaughn said. "He said that's going to be the easiest and fastest way onto the football field because not a lot of guys do it and not a lot of guys are good at it. It's one way to put yourself into space and show what you can do. That's been one of the biggest tips of advice.
"For the past three months, I've been catching punts almost every single day that I can. Now I'm getting comfortable with it. It's a way to get onto the football field."
As for what's next for Vaughn?
"Now you get to do some private workouts, so I'll be here in Manhattan for about another two weeks and you'll get to do more interviews and Zoom calls," he said, "but now you can get back to the fun part of working out for football to get ready for mini-camp and OTAs and playing football. I'm really excited for this next step."
He's eager for the journey.
He's been preparing for it virtually his entire life.
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