Ashton Jeanty compares himself to this former Rookie of the Yr working again, talks Cowboys and Raiders

There hasn’t been a working again getting into the NFL draft coming off a season as historic as Boise State Broncos All-American Ashton Jeanty’s 2024 marketing campaign in a very long time. That is certainly one of many the explanation why he enters the 2025 NFL Draft as its high working again prospect.

Jeanty ran for two,601 yards speeding in 2024, which was solely 28 shy of faculty soccer’s all-time report held by Corridor of Famer Barry Sanders (2,628 in 1988 with Oklahoma State), whereas totaling 10 runs of at the very least 60 yards,essentially the most by any FBS participant since at the very least 2015 per CBS Sports activities Analysis. He additionally produced 5 touchdowns of at the very least 70 yards, tying Corridor of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (5 in 2000 with TCU) for the FBS single season report, in line with CBS Sports activities Analysis. 

“Excellent spot to be proper now,” Jeanty informed CBS Sports activities in a one on one dialog. “Clearly I had a terrific season, in a position to enter the draft and be one of many high guys, so it is all simply blessing. Nice second. We’re type of on the dwelling stretch to seek out out the place I will be for the subsequent three, 4 years of my life and soccer profession.”

Loyalty and “the principle factor” 

Loyalty has turn into an enormous speaking level within the soccer world just lately following the excessive profile divorce between 2024 Faculty Soccer Playoff participant Tennessee and its beginning quarterback Nico Iamaleava over Identify, Picture and Likeness (NIL) fee packages. NFL groups have requested Jeanty why in at this time’s age of faculty soccer that somebody like himself did not hop within the switch portal in pursuit of extra money and selected to remain dwelling in Boise. 

“Yeah, I positively suppose so as a result of the trendy day athlete is fairly fast to leap ship go to a different college,” Jeanty mentioned when requested if he thinks his loyalty helps him in NFL interviews now. “Clearly, everyone has completely different circumstances and sure issues. Everyone’s not chasing the bag, however I feel it simply type of exhibits who I’m as an individual, as a participant and actually simply the give attention to growing and turning into the perfect participant that I could be somewhat than chasing after essentially the most cash as attainable. Simply holding the principle factor the principle factor was actually vital.”

What’s Jeanty’s important factor? 

“The primary factor is to proceed to be among the finest working backs within the transition to the NFL and hold that very same philosophy,” he mentioned. “Clearly take it to the subsequent stage as a result of what bought me to the place I am at just isn’t sufficient. Identical to what bought me to varsity wasn’t sufficient. I needed to stage it up.”

Strain mounting for Jeanty to turn into a Las Vegas Raider 

Jeanty may find yourself leveling as much as the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders, the proprietor of the 2025 NFL Draft’s sixth total decide. The 2024 AFC West final place finishers, with a 4-13 report, ranked useless final in your entire NFL in staff speeding yards (1,357), yards per carry (3.6) and tackles averted on speeding performs (49). Jeanty led faculty soccer in speeding yards (2,601) and tackles averted on rushes (170) whereas rating ninth within the nation in yards per carry (7.0). 

That is why Raiders GM John Spytek’s oldest son Jack, who’s 10-years-old, is banging the desk for Jeanty to be chosen sixth total subsequent week. 

“My oldest son has made it no secret, if we don’t decide Ashton Jeanty at six, that he’s strolling out of the household, and he’s gonna discover any individual else,” Spytek mentioned on SiriusXM NFL Radio on April 2. “Most likely whoever takes Ashton. I feel he, Jack, is motivated by fantasy soccer and touchdowns in fantasy soccer. Not essentially all of staff constructing. … He walked proper into our constructing and principally informed [owner] Mark Davis ‘if my dad does not take Ashton Jeanty, he is doing a foul job.'” 

That viral quote has made its means again to Jeanty, one thing that triggered him to chuckle when about when requested concerning the subject. 

“I’ve had some good conversations with them [the Raiders] all through the draft course of, however I did see that [the story about Spytek’s son] a bit of bit in the past. Had me laughing,” Jeanty mentioned with an enormous grin.

Jeanty then referenced New York Giants basic supervisor Joe Schoen’s youngsters telling him who to draft at quarterback within the 2024 draft on the offseason addition of “Arduous Knocks.” Schoen was unable to commerce up from the sixth total decide for Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye — two quarterbacks his son Carson talked about — final offseason. Daniels and Maye went second total to the Washington Commanders and third total to the New England Patriots respectively. New York then had their worst season in franchise historical past in 2024 with a 3-14 report, which earned them the third total decide within the 2025 draft. Secure to say there’s some strain being utilized for Jeanty to go off the board at decide quantity six. He hasn’t but spoke to Las Vegas half proprietor Tom Brady, who’s taken an lively position in soccer operations since becoming a member of the Raiders possession group and who instantly developed a friendship with new Professional Bowl quarterback Geno Smith as his commerce over from the Seattle Seahawks was being finalized. 

“Hey, I am not going to say something, however we have seen a GM [Schoen] whose son informed him informed him to choose any individual, and so they did not,” Jeanty mentioned laughing. “I am not going to say an excessive amount of, however the Raiders can be a terrific touchdown spot. New [coaching staff], new GM, and to return in there and increase this group and convey some nice guys within the constructing. Carry profitable again to that group.” 

On condition that Jeanty is a graduate of Lone Star Excessive Faculty in Frisco, Texas — the town the place the Dallas Cowboys’ staff facility, The Star — is situated, the subject of his hometown staff arose. Clearly, he is not hoping to fall outdoors of the primary 10 picks, however he would obtain touchdown with the Cowboys, who’ve the draft’s twelfth total decide, very properly. He is already suited up on their indoor apply subject.

“Yeah, that would not be unhealthy in any respect,” Jeanty mentioned. “Clearly spending a while rising up right here, proper by there. Even a few of our video games have been of their apply facility, so it will be a terrific alternative as it will to play for any of the opposite groups within the NFL.”

What Jeanty tells groups that ask about his workload

With a view to produce the gaudy stats he had in 2024, Jeanty racked up 374 carries this previous season — essentially the most carries in a single collegiate season working again Derrick Henry’s Heisman Trophy-winning marketing campaign at Alabama again in 2015, per CBS Sports activities Analysis. That 12 months, Henry totaled 2,219 yards speeding and 28 speeding touchdowns on a whopping 395 carries. That workload hasn’t harm the six foot, two inch tall Henry who weighs 247 kilos. He simply had essentially the most speeding yards (1,921) in a season in NFL historical past by a participant age 30-or-older as a 30-year-old in 2024, per CBS Sports activities Analysis. Jeanty is not the identical bodily marvel: he stands at 5’8 1/2″ tall and weighs 211 kilos, per his mix measurements. Nonetheless, he feels assured in having a protracted NFL profession given his private routine and sources out there at this time. A few of Jeanty’s strategies embody sizzling tubs, chilly tubs, dry needling, massages and extra. 

“Derrick Henry is a superb instance,” Jeanty mentioned when informed the context of his 2024 workload. “He is bought tons of carries on every stage [high school, college and the NFL], however the way in which I maintain my physique, there’s so many various issues — expertise — to maintain your physique is so superior now that I feel any positions’ profession span could be elongated if you happen to maintain your physique. That is one factor that I do a terrific job of, and that is why I used to be in a position to have that workload and have a terrific season as a result of I put hours in investing in my physique.”

The “working again renaissance”

Talking of Henry, the 2024 working again class that included him, Philadelphia Eagles working again Saquon Barkley and Inexperienced Bay Packers working again Josh Jacobs helped push again on the angle that investing considerably in working backs is a dropping proposition. All three earned Professional Bowl nods of their new properties, and Barkley gained the 2024 NFL Offensive Participant of the Yr award en path to speeding for over 2,000 yards and serving to Philadelphia win Tremendous Bowl LIX. Jeanty additionally credited himself and his fellow 2025 draft classmates on the working again place for moreover serving to to spark a “working again renaissance.” He particularly credited North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and each Ohio State working backs — TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins earlier than saying it is actually “a protracted checklist of fellows” given the depth of the 2025 working again class. 

“I feel the worth is certainly going again up courtesy of fellows within the league doing it, but in addition guys in faculty enjoying at a excessive stage. I had a very nice, historic season, however there was quite a lot of different nice guys who had nice seasons as properly and did nice issues in faculty soccer. Persons are it is like a bit of working again renaissance, however I consider it is right here. The time is now to get you a terrific working again to be that X-factor in your offense.”

Jeanty’s NFL participant comparability

Given Jeanty’s measurement and high-end contact stability, his 1,970 yards speeding after contact subsequent season have been greater than every other faculty soccer participant’s complete speeding yards determine in 2024, he is a singular mix. He selected to match himself to the similarly-built Alvin Kamara (5’10, 215 kilos), the New Orleans Saints five-time Professional Bowl again.

“I feel there’s quite a lot of gamers actually, and I really feel like my fashion is turning into distinctive in a way as a result of I take so many issues from quite a lot of completely different backs. One I actually attempt to [take from] is Alvin Kamara. I’ve all the time gotten quite a lot of comparisons to him as properly. The contact stability, the catching capability. simply being a three-down again. If you watch his tape, you watch my tape, you see quite a lot of similarities.”

Staying relaxed forward of the draft

One among his go to hobbies in his downtime outdoors of soccer is gaming, which is why Jeanty is partnering with Name of Responsibility: Cell forward of night time one of many 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, Apr. 24. He’ll be livestreaming on Name of Responsibility: Cell with skilled gamer Bobby Performs on Wednesday Apr. 23 at 9:45 pm ET/6:45 pm PT on Performs’ YouTube channel right here. Jeanty additionally competed in Name of Responsibility: Moble in opposition to fellow draft class mates on the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix earlier this 12 months. 

“Attending to play Name of Responsibility, have enjoyable and Name of Responsibility’s been one thing that I’ve performed since I used to be a bit of child, “Jeanty mentioned. … “It is positively an effective way to have some downtime. It seems like an escape from all of the busyness for me. As soon as I am enjoying, I really feel like I am actually within the sport. I am actually within the subject taking pictures, however I am not. I do not shoot weapons except it is Name of Responsibility. It is simply enjoyable man, and to attach all of your guys and mates enjoying the sport, it is simply a good time.”