Who is Cam Akers, the FSU running back drafted by the Los Angeles Rams?
The run on running backs came early in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. As top tailbacks heard their names called one by one, it was only a matter of time before Florida State’s Cam Akers had his turn.
The Los Angeles Rams drafted the former Seminoles standout in the second round — No. 52 overall — of the NFL Draft on Friday.
Akers is the first FSU player off the board this year, and it comes after a solid college career.
Akers, 5-10 and 217 pounds, entered the draft generally considered among the top five running backs in the class. The Clinton, Mississippi, native left FSU after his junior season and finished his college career with 2,874 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns. He is one of three players with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons in FSU history, joining Warrick Dunn and Dalvin Cook. He also ranked among the top 10 in FSU history in rushing attempts (586, fifth), rushing yards (sixth), career 100-yard rushing games (11, sixth), total touchdowns (34, tied for sixth), rushing touchdowns (seventh).
“Despite a disappointing win-loss record and a lack of blocking up front, Akers maintained a consistent level of play that represents his football character,” NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in his combine report. “He runs with tempo and flow but alters his rush track at a moment’s notice when needed. He is elusive but lacking the instant burst of a slasher capable of stacking long runs in a single game. Akers has above-average open-field vision once he’s into the second level and looks to run through the tackler’s pads as a finisher. He’s a three-down option with good feel for finding the crease near the goal line, but ball security needs to improve. He can be Leg 1 or 2 of a tandem rushing attack and is one of the more natural runners in the draft.”
Akers was the fourth running back drafted this year, behind LSU’s Clyde Edward-Helaire (No. 32, Kansas City Chiefs), D’Andre Swift (No. 35, Detroit Lions) and Jonathan Taylor (No. 41, Indianapolis Colts).
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