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Ashton Jeanty Prospect Preview
By Charlie Campbell
Career Recap:
Jeanty was one of the top offensive players in college football during the 2023 season. As a sophomore, Jeanty averaged 6.1 yards per carry for 1,347 yards with 14 touchdowns. He was also a tremendous receiving back with 43 receptions for 569 yards and five scores. This was a big improvement from his freshman season, when he averaged 5.3 yards per carry for 821 yards with seven touchdowns. He had 14 catches for 155 yards that season.
2024 Season Outlook::
Boise State plays a lot of teams that Jeanty should run over during the 2024 season. The best opponents to watch him against could be Oregon (Sep. 7), Washington State (Sep. 28), and Oregon State (Nov. 29).
Prospect Summary:
The running back position has been downgraded in the NFL Draft, but special runners still have a big impact on wins versus losses in the NFL. While there aren’t many backs that get selected on the opening night of the draft anymore, Jeanty could be one of the prospects that break the mold and end up being an opening night selection.
Jeanty is a devastating running back with an excellent skill set and he could be a special back at the pro level. There is a lot to fall in love with Jeanty. The two traits that jump out immediately are the speed and strong build that make Jeanty a nightmare for defenses. He has an excellent first step with an instant burst to hit the hole. Along with firing quickly upfield, Jeanty has serious speed with a second gear to accelerate into the secondary. If defenses don’t redirect or cause him to slow down, Jeanty can go the distance as he has real speed to break off long runs. He may not be as fast as Jahmyr Gibbs, but Jeanty could have speed that is comparable to Breece Hall.
On top of the speed, Jeanty has serious strength. With a strong build and a thick lower body, Jeanty is a nightmare to tackle, as defenders really struggle to get a hold of him. He uses his strong chest and thick lower body to bounce off tacklers, and Jeanty shows superb contact balance. He is difficult to get on the ground, and Jeanty will push through or toss defenders to the side. With his strong build to push, Jeanty finishes runs extremely well falling forward for more yardage and delivering some punishment to tacklers. With his power and speed, Jeanty is three a downback who can be effective in third-and-long or short-yardage situations.
To be a top back in the NFL, a player has to be a good receiver, and Jeanty fits the bill. Even though he has a thick build, Jeanty is very athletic running routes and shows an incredible ability to adjust his powerful frame to passes. Jeanty has soft, natural hands and is very reliable to make the catch. As a pro, Jeanty could be a superb outlet receiver and a mismatch weapon when going against linebackers. Like all college backs, Jeanty will need to learn blocking for blitz protection, but he definitely has three-down starting potential for the NFL.
If Jeanty stays consistent with his 2023 performance, he could become a starter at the NFL level quickly in his rookie season.
2025 NFL Draft Expectations:
Entering the 2024 season, Jeanty looks like he has early-round potential for the 2025 NFL Draft.
RELATED LINKS:
NFL Picks - Oct. 30
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Oct. 30
NFL Power Rankings - Oct. 28
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
