NFL Draft Profiles: Ashton Jeanty - The electrifying running back set to light up the league

NFL teams rarely consider running backs in the top-ten picks of the draft any longer, thanks to the league's increasingly pass-centric nature and the relatively short careers at the position.

Boise State's Ashton Jeanty is so talented that he is bucking that trend and rewriting the narrative.

DAZN News examines what makes Jeanty so uniquely special and considers the impact he can make in the NFL.

Overview

It became apparent that Jeanty had what it takes to become one of the best running backs in college football as early as his freshman year, as he amassed almost 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns on only 170 touches.

From the outset, it was clear that Jeanty combined a rare blend of athleticism, vision, and contact balance at the position.

Such was his ability that nobody was surprised when Jeanty almost doubled his all-purpose yards in his sophomore season, producing highlight reel after highlight reel.

Few expected the best was still to come. Still, Jeanty continued to defy expectations, and in 2024 -his junior year- he led all college running backs with 2601 rushing yards and 29 yards, averaging a mind-blowing seven yards per carry.

Those 2601 yards fell only 28 yards shy of breaking a 36-year record held by Hall of Fame great Barry Sanders.

Equally explosive as both a runner and receiver, Jeanty's dual-threat ability is rivalled by few and was contained by even fewer.

If that were not enough, the dynamic running back also forced more missed tackles and achieved more yards after contact than any other college running back by a wide margin.

Jeanty's ability to break tackles was so impressive that his 1,512 yards after contact would still have ranked second among all college running backs in total rushing yards.

NFL Outlook

NFL teams often use a platoon of running backs to help keep players fresh and to ensure the best player is on the field in any given situation.

Jeanty has the three-down skill set to stay on the field as long as needed -and the durability to match, having missed just two games in three years at Boise State.

NFL insider Lance Zierlien compared Jeanty to Ladainian Tomlinson, the legendary Hall of Fame running back who finished his career ranked seventh in rushing yards among all running backs in NFL history.

Expecting Jeanty to match the feats of Tomlinson would be unfair, but being mentioned in the same sentence and compared to an NFL great bodes well for his outlook.

While the sky is the limit for Jeanty, how he fares will depend on his health and the effectiveness of the offensive he plays for.

Saquon Barkley's tenure with the New York Giants is perhaps the best example of how injuries and poor run blocking can affect even the most talented runners.

2025 NFL Draft Projection

Jeanty didn't compete at the NFL Combine, but he took part in position drills at his Pro Day and looked the part.

Perhaps the only downside to being so highly regarded is that Jeanty will likely be selected by a team with an underperforming offense.

All the NFL teams with selections in the range where Jeanty is expected to be picked have question marks offensively, especially on the offensive line.

Still, that may not be as detrimental to Jeanty's outlook, considering he is one of the few players in the NFL Draft with the talent to help transform an offense.

The Las Vegas Raiders have been a popular landing spot for Jeanty in mock drafts, and it might be one of the better teams for him, considering they traded for a capable quarterback to help reverse their offensive woes.

Wherever Jeanty lands, he will likely become a dynamic, electrifying playmaker who could take the league by storm.

How to watch the NFL on DAZN

Every NFL game during the regular season and playoffs — including the Super Bowl — is available worldwide on DAZN, excluding the United States and China.

DAZN is the only place to watch NFL Game Pass International, with access to every regular-season NFL game and every playoff matchup. That's 335 games per season, and each game is available live* and on demand.

NFL GPI will be available through the DAZN app either as a standalone subscription or an add-on to an existing DAZN package to customers worldwide**, excluding the United States and China.

* In the United Kingdom, up to two Sunday games per week will air on DAZN on a 24-hour tape delay.

** Viewers in Canada can access all NFL content through their regular DAZN subscription.

For more information and to sign up, head here now.

What devices are supported on DAZN?

DAZN is available is watch anywhere and everywhere on any smart device including TV's, phones, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles and web browsers.

 

More NFL

• Who are the starting quarterbacks for all 32 NFL franchises?
• NFL London 2025: Schedule, which teams are playing and host stadiums
• NFL all-time greatest quarterback
• Buy NFL Game Pass
• The most unbelievable play in Super Bowl history
• Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins?
• The best Super Bowl halftime shows of all time