2025 Dallas Cowboys draft scouting report: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty

Whereas the operating again place has been devalued lately, many anticipate Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty to defy that development this yr within the 2025 NFL Draft. Born in Florida to a father within the Navy, Jeanty moved round quite a bit as a child however in the end landed in Frisco, Texas for highschool ball. There, he grew to become a four-star prospect and a High 50 participant within the talent-rich state of Texas.

Title: Ashton JeantyPosition: RBHeight: 5’9”Weight: 215 kilos

Ashton Jeanty Faculty Stats, courtesy of Sports activities Reference

Jeanty in the end selected Boise State, transferring far-off from residence however believing the historically profitable program could be the very best match for him. He turned out to be completely proper, too, as Jeanty hit the bottom operating as a real freshman with 821 dashing yards and 7 scores. The following yr, he broke 1,300 dashing yards and doubled his dashing landing complete from his true frosh yr.

Resisting the temptation of the switch portal, he returned to Boise State regardless of the Broncos making a change at head coach. In flip, he had probably the greatest seasons for a university operating again in historical past, totaling 2,601 dashing yards and ending simply shy of Corridor of Famer Barry Sanders for the all-time single season dashing document. Jeanty additionally completed second in Heisman voting, including one closing feather in his cap earlier than making ready for the NFL.

Burst

Through the years, Jeanty has mastered his first step explosion and turned it into certainly one of his largest weapons. When Jeanty picks a gap to run by means of, he explodes like being shot out of a cannon. Lots of his explosive runs in 2024 – he led the nation in runs of 10+ yards with 63 performs – occurred due to his elite burst and talent to take advantage of a gap earlier than the protection even had an opportunity to appropriate.

Steadiness

Jeanty has a low middle of gravity and a large base, permitting him to keep up nice contact stability always. He pressured 151 missed tackles this yr, 49 greater than the following man in faculty soccer, largely due to his capability to remain upright regardless of taking hits.

Lateral Agility

This is perhaps his largest weak point, although that claims extra about his general capability than his lateral agility particularly. Jeanty noticed most of his work in hole schemes than out on the sting in zone blocking schemes, and he appears extra pure operating downhill. That mentioned, Jeanty may be very exact together with his footwork and doesn’t usually get overextended when working laterally.

Ball Carrying

Jeanty had 4 fumbles this yr and 5 final yr, although it needs to be famous he had a whopping 416 carries in 2024. Nonetheless, Jeanty can get somewhat careless with the way in which he holds the soccer at instances, not at all times preserving it excessive and tight. His carrying fashion is harking back to LeSean McCoy at instances, and defenses can jar the ball unfastened in the event that they rip at it with consistency. The factor is that defenses hardly ever had that likelihood due to how elite Jeanty was within the open discipline, however that will likely be a precedence to develop on the subsequent stage.

Cross Catching

He didn’t see a lot work within the passing sport this yr, principally as a result of Boise State ran him quite a bit in 2024, however his 2023 season gives extra promise. Jeanty caught 44 passes for 578 yards and averaged 14.1 yards after the catch per reception. He gives actual upside within the passing sport, although it received’t be his promoting level.

Blocking

Jeanty didn’t get a complete lot of publicity in go safety as a result of scheme and his utilization, however he proved dependable on the entire. He gave up a sack this yr, nevertheless it was the one one he’s allowed in his three yr faculty profession. Jeanty can get sloppy in his blocking approach at instances, however he’s not a expertise you’re asking to dam all that always anyway.

Athleticism

An elite athlete in each sense of the phrase, he can entry any a part of the sphere, whether or not it’s lengthy runs or brief space burst. He had a singular benefit in that regard taking part in within the Mountain West, and the taking part in discipline will likely be extra balanced on the subsequent stage, however Jeanty ought to nonetheless be one of many extra athletic backs on the market.

Processing

Jeanty doesn’t have brain-farts, plain and easy. He understands the blocking schemes, the place and when he wants to chop, and the way to create further yardage in any state of affairs.

Intangibles

He’s the final word competitor, hardly ever shying away from contact or the prospect to chop again for further yards. His loyalty to Boise State in an age the place gamers can simply go away for greater profile packages is noteworthy. There will likely be considerations about workload, as Jeanty had 750 carries in three years at Boise State; by comparability, Derrick Henry didn’t hit that quantity till near the tip of his fourth yr within the NFL.