With Miami’s offense undergoing a major transformation, the former Aggie standout is poised to anchor the backfield and transform his elite efficiency into a league-leading performance.
Former Texas A&M running back De’Von Achane is entering the 2026 NFL season with some lofty expectations, and the Miami Dolphins star is not shy about what he wants to accomplish.
When talking to NFL network recently, he told them his very lofty goal for this season with his expected workload.
"For me, it’s trying to get the rushing title," Achane said. "That’s something I want to do this year. I feel like if I got the rushing title, every game we’re doing something good. If we’re productive, if I’m being productive, helping my team win, I feel like as a whole, we’re doing something great."
The former Aggie has plenty of reasons to believe he can compete for the league's top rushing total. Achane is coming off the best season of his young NFL career, finishing the 2025 campaign with 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. His rushing total ranked fifth in the league, while his 5.7 yards per carry was first in the NFL.
Now, Achane wants to take another step forward.
The Dolphins also have plenty of incentive to feature their explosive running back. Miami traded wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and released veteran wideout Tyreek Hill during the offseason, potentially creating even more opportunities for Achane to become the centerpiece of the offense.
Achane understands that individual success will ultimately be tied to the Dolphins' overall performance. His goal isn't simply to pile up statistics. He believes leading the league in rushing would be an indication that he and Miami are consistently moving the football and winning games.
And he knows with the new-look roster, he has to step up into a sort of team veteran role since he is one of the returning players on the offense.
"We got a lot of new faces, so I feel like I got out there, I’ve got to lead, and I’ve got to show by example."
For Texas A&M fans, watching Achane chase the NFL rushing crown provides another opportunity to follow one of the program's most explosive recent stars.
Achane played three seasons at Texas A&M from 2020-22, finishing his Aggie career with 2,376 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He became a full-time starter as a junior and rushed for 1,102 yards before entering the NFL Draft.
Since then, his speed and big-play ability have translated seamlessly to the professional level.
Now, the former Aggie has his sights set on becoming the NFL's leading rusher. With a bigger role expected in Miami, Achane will have a legitimate opportunity to turn that goal into reality.
