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Ke’Shawn Vaughn started his collegiate career at Illinois but after sharing work his first two seasons, decided to sit out a year and transfer to Vanderbilt, where he had successful junior and senior seasons, rushing 355 times for 2,272 yards (6.4 ypc) and 21 touchdowns while adding 41 receptions for 440 yards and three touchdowns in 24 games his last two seasons.
Scouting Report
Vaughn does everything well but nothing great. That’s a good recipe to stick in the NFL as a backup, but not to take off into the upper echelon of running backs in the league. He can hit creases well with good vision, but has trouble making people miss with regularity. His toughness and determination help him run through arm tackles and pick up those extra inches every early down runner needs.
In the right zone blocking scheme, Vaughn has the upside to be a lead back if everything falls his way, but he likely won’t be in a spot where he won’t have competition for snaps at all times. Vaughn will need to improve across the board, but as a competent receiver, there’s a chance he can show marked improvement in the passing game, winning more work as his career goes on.
Vanderbilt running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn found a great deal of production after transferring to the SEC from Illinois despite operating behind a weak Commodore offensive line. Vaughn has the vision and decision making to execute gap and zone runs making him a scheme-versatile prospect. With that said, Vaughn is a high floor, low ceiling prospect at a position that lacks value. He forecasts as a rosterable back that provides depth but his lack of creativity and upside as a receiver limits his value. — Joe Marino, The Draft Network
Mock Draft Results
Mel Kiper, ESPN: Not in mock
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: Not in mock
Eric Edholm, Yahoo Sports: Not in mock
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire: Not in mock
Fantasy impact: Rookie year
Vaughn will need to develop in the NFL before making a fantasy football impact.
Fantasy impact: Career
Vaughn’s vision and determination make him a player who I believe can be a good goal line back in the NFL with the right team. Getting that opportunity might not be easy, but if he improves as a pass blocker and receiver, he could earn more time on the field while performing well in short yardage from the get go.