Not receiving as many FBS offers as expected in high school, all the way to being passed over in the Heisman Trophy race, being overlooked is not new to Ashton Jeanty.
The Boise State running back had to unquestionably prove time, and time, and time, and time, and time again he’s one of the best running backs in the country. He had to break a multitude of tackles while leading his team to Mountain West Championships and a College Football Playoff appearance to be considered a top-10 overall prospect in this year’s draft class.
Even then, questions have still swirled about how great Jeanty actually could be. Can he play in the NFL if he mostly faced Group of Five defenses? Is he too small? Is he fast enough if he didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine?
Jeanty, who teammates and coaches constantly lauded for his humility and leadership as well as his skill, felt the need to speak up. In a letter for The Players’ Tribune, Jeanty made it clear why NFL teams should pick him.
“I’ve taken the long way. I’m done with that way,” he said. “If you pick me, it’s simple: I’m coming to your franchise to do what Saquon (Barkley) and the Eagles just did. I’m coming to win, big, soon.
“It’s TACKLE football … you know what I’m saying? I’d draft the guy they can’t tackle.
“Thank you for your time, Ashton Jeanty”
Considering all he accomplished at Boise State, it’s hard to argue against that.
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Who Drafted Ashton Jeanty?
Ashton Jeanty was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the sixth overall selection.
“Just being a three-down back,” Jeanty said when asked before the Fiesta Bowl how his game translates to the NFL. “Obviously running the ball. Every great running back, you’ve got to be able to run the ball. But now in terms of the way the game is shifting, you’ve got to be able to pass protect, block in the pass game. Just having the IQ to understand defenses, understand how they’re going to pressure and being able to pick it up. Just being able to play on each down and receiving the ball out the backfield.”
Ashton Jeanty’s NFL Combine Height & Weight
Ashton Jeanty was measured at 5 feet, 8.5 inches and 211 pounds at the NFL Combine.
Jeanty did not run the 40-yard dash at the combine, nor did he do so at Boise State’s pro day. He didn’t take part in any measurable drills at either event.
How Close Was Ashton Jeanty To Breaking The FBS Rushing Yards Record?
Jeanty was 28 yards away from breaking the FBS single-season rushing yards record set by Barry Sanders in 1988 at Oklahoma State.
“Ashton Jeanty is a warrior,” Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said in the lead up to the Fiesta Bowl. “Even on the 13-game run, how he lived in the training room, how he was able to not only play in the games where the nation was watching with the amount of carries and yards and violent hits he took. He also was doing the same thing in practice, grinding to go play his best.”
Did Ashton Jeanty Win The Heisman Trophy?
Ashton Jeanty did not win the Heisman Trophy. He was the runner-up for the award behind Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter.
“I’m biased. I’m around (Jeanty) every day,” Danielson said, “but what he’s done personally, what he’s willed our team to do as our top leader, winning a championship, getting a team to a championship, winning it, being the three seed (in the CFP), the individual stats that he’s racked up across every game, played every single down … guys lean on him.”
Ashton Jeanty Stats & Highlights
Jeanty finished the 2024 season with 2,601 yards on the ground. He ran for 29 touchdowns on 374 carries, breaking school records for yards, TDs, and rushing attempts.
Jeanty also set Boise State’s single-game records for rushing yards and touchdowns when he recorded 267 yards and six TDs on the ground in a season-opening win over Georgia Southern.
Jeanty proved he could compete against power conference defenses as well when he ran for 192 yards and three scores against Oregon.
Many great running backs have played at Boise State. But Jeanty concluded his three-year career there with the records for rushing yards (4,769), yards per carry (6.36), and yards per game (119.2).
“First off, he’s a 10-out-of-10 human being,” Danielson said. “… He’s a unanimous captain. He’s one the best leaders and one of the hardest workers we have ever had here at Boise State. He’s a generational football talent but also a generational leader and teammate here at Boise State. And then outside of the stats, Ashton puts people in conflict whenever he runs the football.
“That’s something I know from being the defensive coordinator going against him for a couple years. But how do you deal with him? Do you settle your feet? If you settle your feet, he does have really good top end and can work around you. If you come in high, he’s very powerful at the point of attack. I just think he puts people in conflict on the football field, and he’s a relentless competitor.”
As a sophomore, Jeanty ran for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns on 220 carries for an average of 6.1 yards per carry. He hauled in 43 passes for 569 yards and five scores.
Jeanty was a freshman in 2022 and split carries with George Holani, another Boise State great who made it to the NFL. That season, Jeanty ran for 821 yards and seven touchdowns on 156 carries for a 5.3 yards-per-carry average while catching 14 passes for 155 yards.
“Ashton Jeanty is phenomenal for college football,” Danielson said. “He’s going to be phenomenal for the NFL. He’s going to drastically change every NFL team the second he walks in the door, not only what he brings to the field but the culture he brings with him.”
Where Is Ashton Jeanty From?
Ashton Jeanty’s hometown is Jacksonville, Florida. But he went to Lone Star High School in Texas, where he was a four-star prospect.
He was the 27th-highest ranked prospect at his position in the country, per 247Sports. He played running back, wide receiver, defensive end, outside linebacker, and safety in high school. In 12 games his senior year, Jeanty ran for 1,843 yards on 229 carries, caught 41 receptions for 810 yards, and scored 41 total touchdowns with 31 rushing TDs.
Jeanty signed with Boise State – and stayed there despite massive NIL offers going into the 2024 season – because he felt the Broncos’ culture was too great to leave.
“You take a look at the history of Boise State. Not too many teams are able to sustain winning, but Boise State has been sustaining a winning season since before I was born,” Jeanty said. “You look at that, you look at how many players have come through here and have had exceptional careers at the collegiate level and the NFL level. They’re developing guys all around at different positions. And I can see myself being one of the great players coming through.”
Ashton Jeanty’s Age
Ashton Jeanty is 21 years old. He was born on Dec. 2, 2003.
Ashton Jeanty NFL Comparison
I believe many elements of Ashton Jeanty’s game are comparable to Marshawn Lynch. Jeanty’s strongest quality is his ability to break tackles, and Lynch’s “Beast Quake” run in the NFL playoffs where he shed multiple tackles is one of the most famous plays in football.
Ashton Jeanty 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Jeanty’s elusiveness and ability to break tackles is the trait that comes up most for NFL Draft analysts.
Jeanty ran for 1,970 yards after contact in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. That number alone would still rank first in the country compared to other running backs’ total rushing yards.
Jeanty led the nation with 152 missed tackles forced, which was 49 more than anyone else. He was also first with runs of 10-plus yards (63) and 15-plus yards (36).
When I asked prior to the Fiesta Bowl if there’s a common trait all great running backs must have, Jeanty said the ability to break tackles is integral.
“For one, running the ball, just your mentality is always making the first man miss,” Jeanty said. “Every run play isn’t going to be blocked perfect. Sometimes somebody is going to come free. Sometimes you’ve got to make the linebacker miss, safety, whatever it is. You’ve just got to break tackles. I think all the great running backs, they just have that mentality that the first man isn’t going to tackle them.”
After watching Jeanty’s tape, there’s so much more to his game. He breaks tackles because of his superior balance and vision. He anticipates how defenses are going to pursue him and has the patience to let blocks develop before making cuts.
Jeanty’s not the tallest running back, but he’s strong. He’s also tough, as he played through multiple injuries in his career.
His receiving abilities also aren’t discussed enough. Boise State didn’t really use him in the passing game as much, especially last season, but he dropped just three passes over the last two years.
He’s also not a bad pass blocker. On 111 pass blocking opportunities in 2024, Jeanty allowed just nine quarterback pressures and one sack. He gave up just 14 pressures during his entire career at Boise State.
Jeanty is a unique prospect, even if he went to a G5 school.
