Blogging The Boys
There is no question that Ashton Jeanty is the most commonly mocked player to the Cowboys.
While the running back position has been devalued in recent years, many expect Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty to defy that trend this year in the 2025 NFL Draft. Born in Florida to a father in the Navy, Jeanty moved around a lot as a kid but ultimately landed in Frisco, Texas for high school ball. There, he became a four-star prospect and a Top 50 player in the talent-rich state of Texas.
Name: Ashton Jeanty
Position: RB
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 215 pounds
Jeanty ultimately chose Boise State, moving far away from home but believing the traditionally successful program would be the best fit for him. He turned out to be absolutely right, too, as Jeanty hit the ground running as a true freshman with 821 rushing yards and seven scores. The next year, he broke 1,300 rushing yards and doubled his rushing touchdown total from his true frosh year.
Resisting the temptation of the transfer portal, he returned to Boise State despite the Broncos making a change at head coach. In turn, he had one of the best seasons for a college running back in history, totaling 2,601 rushing yards and finishing just shy of Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for the all-time single season rushing record. Jeanty also finished second in Heisman voting, adding one final feather in his cap before preparing for the NFL.
Over the years, Jeanty has mastered his first step explosion and turned it into one of his biggest weapons. When Jeanty picks a hole to run through, he explodes like being shot out of a cannon. Many of his explosive runs in 2024 - he led the nation in runs of 10+ yards with 63 plays - happened because of his elite burst and ability to exploit a hole before the defense even had a chance to correct.
Jeanty has a low center of gravity and a wide base, allowing him to maintain great contact balance at all times. He forced 151 missed tackles this year, 49 more than the next guy in college football, largely because of his ability to stay upright despite taking hits.
This might be his biggest weakness, though that says more about his overall ability than his lateral agility specifically. Jeanty saw most of his work in gap schemes than out on the edge in zone blocking schemes, and he looks more natural running downhill. That said, Jeanty is very precise with his footwork and doesn’t often get overextended when working laterally.
Jeanty had four fumbles this year and five last year, though it should be noted he had a whopping 416 carries in 2024. Still, Jeanty can get a little careless with the way he holds the football at times, not always keeping it high and tight. His carrying style is reminiscent of LeSean McCoy at times, and defenses can jar the...
