Sportsnaut
While he was the best rusher in all of college football last season — by far — a new report reveals the Las Vegas Raiders coaching staff is grooming Ashton Jeanty to be just as impactful in his rookie season with his hands as he can be with his legs.
There is renewed hope in Las Vegas heading into the 2025 NFL season. The organization fired head coach Antonio Pierce and made Seattle Seahawks legend Pete Carroll his replacement. And they addressed their QB void with two-time Pro Bowler Geno Smith. And they hope No. 1 pick Ashton Jeanty can be just as good a running back in the pros as he was in college.
In 2024, the Boise State star ran for over 2,600 yards and posted an absurd 7.0 yards per carry. He has even gotten comparisons to Seahawks great Marshawn Lynch. The back is as pure a rusher as there is in the game. However, the Raiders coaching staff is plotting to turn him into a dual-threat and has already started on his grooming.
“Last week at OTAs, Ashton Jeanty, the club’s first-round pick out of Boise State, lined up for a rep behind rookie quarterback Cam Miller. At the last second, [Geno] Smith jumped in for Miller,” Las Vegas Review-Journal Raiders reporter Vincent Bonsignore wrote. “The implication was clear. The Raiders want to get Jeanty involved in their pass game. And Smith was astute enough to understand the importance of maximizing every rep with the rookie.
“The play was indicative of how the Raiders plan to utilize Jeanty. The screen game will be a big part of the attack. But so will throwing to him downfield. Jeanty has lined up all over the field. Including out wide, so don’t be surprised to see him as a versatile piece of the pass game.”
The 5-foot-8, 211-pounder is built to run by and run through players. But he actually has proven he can be a threat in the passing game. In his sophomore season at Boise State, he caught 43 passes for 569 yards. The talent is there to be a good pass catcher. And the Raiders are looking to further pull it out of him since he will be splitting carries with Raheem Mostert in his rookie season.
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