Ke’Shawn Vaughn: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
Position: RB
School: Vanderbilt
Class: Redshirt-Senior
Date of Birth: May 4, 1997
Height: 5-10 Weight: 214lbs
Athletic Testing
40-Time: 4.51
Speed Score: 103.5 (74th-percentile)
Burst Score: 112.9 (23rd-percentile)
Bio
Ke’Shawn Vaughn dominated at Pearl-Cohn High School in Tennessee, rushing for over 2,000 yards as a junior and 2,646 yards and 45 touchdowns in his senior season. He was named the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Football in Tennessee. He also participated in track and field as a sprinter. Vaughn was a four-star recruit and received offers from Notre Dame, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Vanderbilt before committing to Illinois. As a freshman, Vaughn started five of 11 games and led the Illini with 723 yards and six touchdowns on 157 carries (4.6 YPC). He added 16 receptions for 119 yards.
Vaughn was once again the starting tailback early in his sophomore season before ceding carries to other backs and eventually losing his job. He took just 149 snaps on the year and finished with 60 carries for 301 yards (5.0 YPC) and three touchdowns on the ground and nine receptions for 89 yards through the air. After the disappointing 2016 campaign, Vaughn opted to transfer to Vanderbilt where he sat out the 2017 season.
See Where Ke’Shawn Vaughn Lands In Our 2020 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
Back on the field in 2018, Vaughn rushed for 1,244 yards and 12 touchdowns on 157 carries (7.9 YPC) with 13 receptions for 170 yards and two more scores. It was by far his best collegiate season. According to PFF, he had an explosive run rate of over 20-percent while averaging 5.3 yards after contact per attempt and a 100-percent catch rate. Running behind a struggling offensive line in 2019, Vaughn managed 1,028 yards (5.2 YPC) and nine rushing touchdowns. He had his only 20 reception season with 28 catches for 270 yards and one touchdown in 12 starts. He averaged 3.73 yards after contact per attempt while forcing 54 missed tackles.
College Stats
Ke’Shawn Vaughn College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference.com
Positives
+Prototypical size
+Scored a touchdown once every 16.5 touches at Vanderbilt
+Consistent production despite poor O-line play
+3.73 YAC per attempt
+Back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons at Vanderbilt
+40.4-percent (90th-percentile) Dominator
+10-percent (74th-percentile) target rate in 2019
Top RB Prospect College Dominator Ratings:
1. Jonathan Taylor: 41.8%
2. Ke'Shawn Vaughn: 40.4%
3. Cam Akers: 39.8%
4. Eno Benjamin: 37.4%
5. Zack Moss: 36.5%
6. A.J. Dillon: 34.8%
7. Benny LeMay: 34.2%
8. Levante Bellamy: 33.7%
9. Joshua Kelley: 33.2%
10. Michael Warren: 32.7% pic.twitter.com/wbXRNrznKg— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) February 14, 2020
Negatives
-Does not possess break-away speed
-Not a dynamic receiver; Just one season of 20+ receptions
-Production took a step back from 2018 to 2019
-Lost starting job at Illinois
-5.2 YPC (35th-percentile)
-Older prospect
-Lacks creativity as a runner
-Good at many, great at none
Highlight Reel
Best Comparable Player (PlayerProfiler): Dalvin Cook
NFL Draft Projection: Fifth Round
Bottom Line:
Vaughn is one of the more landing spot-dependent running backs in the class. He possesses many ‘good’ traits but he isn’t special in any particular area. Therefore, he must be drafted in a favorable situation with an opportunity for early snaps if he is to be a reliable fantasy asset. Otherwise, he will be delegated to RB2 duties with a handcuff designation. Vaughn is best fit for a one-cut zone scheme at the NFL level. He has three-down upside and his exceptional dominator rating and 10.0-percent target rate prove just that. If he earns quality draft capital with a good landing spot, he will be worthy of consideration as the top RB after the “big four” and a second round rookie pick. Otherwise, he is a third rounder with the hope he earns an opportunity down the line.
Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, NFL.com, PFF
