Deuce Vaughn Bio
Christopher “Deuce” Vaughn II (born November 2, 2001) is an American professional football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Vaughn is recognized as the shortest running back ever drafted in the NFL.
Born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Vaughn built his reputation at Kansas State as a versatile playmaker with a rare blend of quickness, balance, and receiving skills for a back. He entered the professional ranks as a dynamic change-of-pace option and continues to pursue a larger role at the NFL level.
Early Life and Background
Vaughn moved frequently during his childhood because his father worked as a college football coach, an experience that exposed him to multiple programs and coaching philosophies before the family settled in Round Rock, Texas. He attended Cedar Ridge High School, where he played football and competed on the track team, sharpening the speed and acceleration that later became central to his game.
As a junior at Cedar Ridge, Vaughn recorded 1,901 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, nine receptions for 159 yards, and one receiving touchdown, earning honorable-mention all-state recognition from the Texas Sports Writers Association. In his senior season, he broke the school’s single-season rushing record with 1,938 yards, added 589 receiving yards, and scored 25 touchdowns, including a 375-yard outburst against Round Rock High School and a 302-yard, five-touchdown performance against Westwood High School. He earned District 13-6A Offensive MVP honors for the second consecutive year.
Vaughn finished his high school career with 4,405 rushing yards, 38 rushing touchdowns, 914 receiving yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns, totaling 5,472 all-purpose yards. Despite his stature, he was rated a three-star recruit and drew scholarship offers from Air Force, Arkansas, Army, Kansas, Missouri, North Texas, South Florida, UTSA, and Wyoming, with preferred walk-on opportunities from Baylor, Oklahoma State, New Mexico, Texas Christian, and Virginia Tech.
Path to American Football
Vaughn accepted a football scholarship from Kansas State University and quickly climbed the Wildcats’ running back depth chart. He overtook Harry Trotter as the starter early in his freshman season and delivered three 100-yard rushing games against Texas Tech, Baylor, and Texas, signaling his readiness for Big 12 competition.
As a freshman, he totaled 123 carries for 642 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 25 receptions for 434 yards, two receiving touchdowns, and seven kickoff returns for 145 yards, earning Big 12 Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year and second-team All-Conference honors. The early accolades confirmed his trajectory toward a featured role in the Kansas State offense and set the stage for a decorated college career.
Deuce Vaughn Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Vaughn’s first full season as Kansas State’s starter showcased his dual-threat ability, with his 129-yard receiving game against Oklahoma highlighting his value as a pass catcher out of the backfield. His Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year award validated his immediate impact.
During his sophomore season, Vaughn entered on the Doak Walker Award watch list and rushed for 1,404 yards on 235 carries with 18 rushing touchdowns, while adding 49 receptions for 468 yards and four receiving scores. He topped 100 rushing yards in nine games, posted a career-high 162 rushing yards against Kansas with an 80-yard touchdown run, and closed the year with 146 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown in the 2022 Texas Bowl victory over LSU.
Kansas State Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Vaughn’s production peaked in his junior season, when he carried 293 times for 1,558 yards with nine rushing touchdowns and added 42 receptions for 378 yards and three receiving scores. He became only the third player in school history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons and the first with both 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a career.
He delivered 147 rushing yards and a touchdown in the regular-season finale against Kansas, then added 130 rushing yards and a score in the Big 12 Championship Game 31–28 overtime win against TCU. In the Sugar Bowl against Alabama, Vaughn rushed for 133 yards with an 88-yard touchdown, capping a junior season that earned him consensus All-American recognition. He finished his college career with 651 carries, 3,604 rushing yards, 34 rushing touchdowns, 21 career 100-yard rushing games, 116 receptions for 1,280 yards, and nine receiving touchdowns.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2023–2024)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Vaughn in the sixth round, 212th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft, and his father, a Cowboys scout, delivered the phone call confirming the pick. At 5 feet 5 inches, Vaughn became the shortest running back ever drafted since the NFL began tracking the combine. As a rookie, he appeared in seven games as a third-string back, registering 23 rushes for 40 yards, seven receptions for 40 yards, and four punt returns for 19 yards, with nine games inactive before an ankle injury placed him on the reserve/injured list on January 3, 2024.
In 2024, Vaughn played eight games as a backup, recording 17 carries for 70 yards and three receptions for 18 yards, while sitting inactive for nine contests. He closed his Cowboys tenure with a career-high 37 rushing yards on six carries on January 5, 2025, averaging 6.2 yards per attempt, before being waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025.
Denver Broncos Era (2025–Present)
On September 9, 2025, the Denver Broncos signed Vaughn to their practice squad, offering a new setting to refine his skills and compete for an expanded offensive role. The move marked a fresh start after two developmental seasons in Dallas and placed him within a Broncos program focused on versatile backfield production.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vaughn’s running style is defined by low center of gravity, sudden lateral movement, and elite balance, attributes that allow him to evade tackles and finish runs despite a compact 5-foot-5 frame. He excels in space as a receiver and returner, with the foot speed and acceleration developed on the track at Cedar Ridge translating cleanly to the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Vaughn’s draft selection by the Cowboys, with his father delivering the news as a team scout, stands as one of the most memorable moments of his career. His consensus All-American recognition in 2022, his Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year award in 2020, and his status as the shortest running back ever drafted since the NFL began tracking the combine represent the defining milestones of his rise from a three-star recruit to an NFL player.
Deuce Vaughn Career Wins
Vaughn’s win totals center on his Big 12 accomplishments and bowl-game performances rather than a long professional victory ledger. His college career featured All-Conference recognition in three straight seasons, a Texas Bowl victory over LSU in 2021, and a Big 12 Championship Game win against TCU in 2022, forming the foundation of his competitive résumé.
Kansas State Highlights
Across three seasons at Kansas State, Vaughn earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2020 and 2021 before securing first-team All-Big 12 recognition and consensus All-American status in 2022. He closed his freshman campaign as the Big 12 Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year and capped his junior year with a Texas Bowl win over LSU and a Big 12 Championship Game victory over TCU.
Other Wins and Performances
Vaughn’s senior high school season included a District 13-6A Offensive MVP award, and his 1,938-yard rushing campaign set Cedar Ridge’s single-season rushing record. His career-high 37 rushing yards for the Cowboys on January 5, 2025, marked his most productive professional outing to date.
Deuce Vaughn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Vaughn’s father, Chris, played college football at Murray State and built a coaching career that included assistant roles at Arkansas, Ole Miss, Memphis, and Texas. After his coaching tenure, Chris transitioned to a scouting role with the Dallas Cowboys, which placed him in position to deliver the draft-day phone call to his son in 2023.
Personal Life
Vaughn is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He grew up alongside the rhythms of college football life due to his father’s coaching career, and he carries the nickname Deuce into both his personal and professional identities.
2025 Season Performance
Vaughn’s 2025 season began with his release from the Dallas Cowboys on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts, ending a two-year developmental stretch in Dallas. The transition marked a reset after limited offensive usage and an ankle injury that cost him time during his rookie season.
On September 9, 2025, he joined the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, positioning himself to work toward a promotion to the active roster and an expanded role within Denver’s backfield. The move paired him with a Broncos offensive staff known for valuing versatile running backs who can contribute on early downs, in the passing game, and on special teams.
The outlook for the remainder of 2025 centers on Vaughn’s ability to translate his track-tested acceleration and Big 12-tested receiving skills into a defined role on Denver’s offense or special teams units. A strong finish on the practice squad could create an opening for active-roster playing time, building momentum into the 2026 offseason and reinforcing his case as a long-term NFL contributor.