NFL Combine: How Cam Akers raised his stock this week

Former FSU running back Cam Akers felt he was underrated going into the NFL Combine. That’s not the case now as he raised his stock with his performance.

Cam Akers was one of the top high school players in the nation coming out of high school in 2017. The five-star recruit was expected to do big things following Dalvin Cook at FSU.

However, a horrendous offensive line and incompetent coaching probably only allowed FSU fans to see a fraction of what Akers brought to the table.

Nevertheless, he put up impressive stats, rushing for nearly 3,000 yards and averaging 4.9 yards on each run.

What’s crazy is, Akers only averaged one yard before receiving contact from opposing defenses in 2019.

Akers’ first game in the garnet and gold was likely the highest-profile game he played in when the Noles took on Alabama in the 2017 opener. He flew under the radar with the Noles going 18-20 in his three seasons.

However, he made himself some money with his performance at the NFL Combine this week. He showed strength, explosiveness and tested better than former FSU football great Dalvin Cook.

Let’s look at how Cam Akers improved his draft stock.

Physical Performance

Dalvin Cook had a tremendous career at FSU and should have been a first-round pick when he left early after the 2016 season. He was ultimately drafted in the second round, and it looks like Akers compares favorably with what Cook did at the NFL Combine.

Here are a couple of other stats where Akers edged Cook at the Combine:

• Cam Akers Vertical: 35.5 inches
• Cam Akers broad jump: 122 inches
• Cam Akers 20-yard shuttle: 4.42
• Dalvin Cook vertical: 30.5 inches
• Dalvin Cook broad jump: 116 inches
• Dalvin Cook 20-yard shuttle: 4.53

Cam Akers looked incredibly fluid in all of his drills and had to have FSU football fans wondering what he could have done behind a competent offensive line.

Mindset

There seemed to be a lot of questions asked regarding his time at FSU. I think casual college football fans are aware of how bad the FSU offensive line has been for the past few years. Not to mention the change in offensive philosophy and three different offensive coordinators during his time in Tallahassee.

I wrote how Akers has handled all of the questions with absolute class. He hasn’t thrown any of his former teammates or coaches under the bus when he easily could have.

I think that will earn great respect from NFL owners and scouts. Akers has always been a no-nonsense type of guy willing to put in the work while giving 100 percent regardless of the odds.

Final Thoughts

Cam Akers has stated multiple teams have shown interest in him. He’s heard from the likes of Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Houston among others.

He believes he can be a three-down running back in the NFL, and I don’t see any reason for that statement to be false.

I think he’s underrated as a receiver out of the backfield too, as his production in that department is comparable to Cook in college.

If you’ve followed Cook’s career in Minnesota, you know he’s become a huge part of their passing game, which is more commonplace in the NFL nowadays.

It’s great to see Cam Akers finally get his due after how his career went in Tallahassee. He committed to a program to help win ACC titles and national championships while finishing with just one winning season.

It looks like he’ll follow in the footsteps of Devonta Freeman, Karlos Williams and Dalvin Cook in the list of running backs drafted from FSU football.

I think he’ll be one of the first three or four running backs selected, going no later than the third round.