Ashton Jeanty is widely regarded as the best running back in this year’s NFL Draft class. The Boise State star has even been called a generational talent by some respected analysts in the industry.
He’s certainly the best prospect out of the Group of Five this year, even though some other G5 players could be taken in the first round as well.
Jeanty has the resume to be worthy of a top-10 pick. He nearly broke the FBS single-season rushing record, recording 2,601 yards on the ground in 2024. He was also a Heisman Trophy runner-up as he helped his team reach the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Jeanty’s tape also shows he possesses an incredible skill set. He has amazing balance, which makes him tough to take down, as well as impressive vision and anticipation for where rushing lanes are going to open up.
But Jeanty’s top-end speed has been one element those in the NFL Draft media contingent have been curious about. He had the quickness to run away from plenty of defenders in the Mountain West, but can he outrun opponents in the open field when he gets to the NFL?
That question still hasn’t been answered, especially since Jeanty didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine or at Boise State’s pro day.
Why Didn’t Ashton Jeanty Run The 40?
Jeanty could’ve opted to not run the 40 during the NFL Combine or at Boise State’s pro day for any number of reasons.
It’s possible he didn’t want to because he worried it would hurt his draft stock, and therefore cost him money if he fell during the first round. Again, some draft experts believe, while Jeanty’s speed isn’t necessarily a weakness, that he may not be the flat-out fastest running back in the draft class.
It’s also possible Jeanty simply didn’t want to because his draft stock couldn’t get any higher. He’s already deemed as the best running back in this class and is maybe one of the best college running backs we’ve seen in the last decade. At this point, the only reasons he could fall will be because he 1. is a running back and 2. played in the Mountain West. He can’t change either of those by running a faster 40.
It’s also not unheard of for the top prospects in the draft to decline participating in measurable drills like the 40-yard dash. Travis Hunter of Colorado, who won the Heisman and is projected to be a top-three pick, didn’t run the 40 during this draft cycle, either.
Ashton Jeanty’s 40 Time Prediction
Ashton Jeanty said during an interview on the Fantasy Football Happy Hour at the Super Bowl this year that he thinks he could run the 40 in 4.44 seconds or faster.
Now, athletes often overestimate how well they could perform, both on the field and in situations like this. But it’s also possible that, on his best day, he could run this fast or at least be close.
Ashton Jeanty 40 Projections
Ashton Jeanty is believed to be capable of running a 4.5-second 40, or even faster.
He’s claimed to have run 40 yards in 4.8 seconds while playing in a game. Granted, that’s different than running from a standstill, with no pads, and with no defenders chasing you. But that is an interesting ballpark for Jeanty’s speed.
What’s Ashton Jeanty’s 40 Time?
I believe Ashton Jeanty could run the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds.
Given all that we know, that seems like a good number for Jeanty. We know he’s fast, but we also know he’s not the fastest running back. If Jeanty was capable of running the 40 in under 4.4 seconds, he likely would’ve participated in that drill at the combine. But from what we’ve seen on the field and during other pre-draft drills, I think he would do better than 4.5 seconds. So that’s why I’m guessing somewhere in the middle.
The best 40 time among running backs at the NFL Combine was recorded by Bhayshul Tuten of Virginia Tech, who ran in 4.32 seconds. The slowest time among RBs was 4.62 seconds.
So 4.46 seconds would put Jeanty in the middle of the pack, not in the top 10 but not in the bottom 10, either.
Omarion Hampton of North Carolina, who many believe is the second-best running back in this class, ran the 40 in 4.46 seconds. Ohio State running backs TreVeyon Henderson (4.43 seconds) and Quinshon Judkins (4.48 seconds) were also in this range as well.
But here’s the thing with Jeanty: While he doesn’t have the top-end speed some running backs might, that’s never been his main strength and it never had to be. He’s capable of explosive plays because of his blend of good speed, exceptional ability to break tackles, and remarkable vision. Those are the traits which make him a top-10 prospect.
