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Ashton Jeanty Compared To Five-Time Pro Bowl RB Before NFL Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated Feb 16, 2025 3:21 PM ET

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty possesses a first-round NFL draft grade with a skillset reminiscent of a five-time Pro Bowl selection, according to ESPN's Matt Miller.

Jeanty, who nearly broke Barry Sanders' single-season record for the most rushing yards in college football history, is the only tailback that Miller considers as a first-round talent.

If that grade holds true, Jeanty would become the first at his position to land in the first round since 2023.

The 5-foot-9, 215-pound rusher racked up a nation's best 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior, falling 27 yards shy of Sanders' mark set in 1988.

Jeanty helped the Broncos to a Mountain West Conference championship and College Football Playoff appearance while finishing as the Heisman Trophy runner-up.

While Jeanty's rushing production takes the most attention, his versatility deserves another look. The Jacksonville, Florida, native caught 80 passes for 862 yards with six touchdowns in his three seasons at Boise State.

And that versatile skillset has drawn an intriguing NFL player comparison by Miller, who sees New Orleans Saints tailback Alavin Kamara when evaluating Jeanty's game.

Kamara (5-foot-10, 215 pounds) won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 after landing to the Saints in the third-round. The former Alabama and Tennessee running back made the Pro Bowl in each of his first five seasons and has been a Second-Team All-Pro selection twice.

Kamara is one of the best at the position in terms of versatility, as he has amassed 6,779 rushing yards and 4,762 receiving yards with 85 total touchdowns in eight seasons.

"The 5-foot-9, 215-pound Jeanty is a punishing runner with patience, vision and runaway speed, and he can also catch passes out of the backfield and stand up to pass rushers while in pass protection," Miller wrote. "The Heisman runner-up is a rare, true blue-chip running back prospect."

Jeanty has received an invite to the NFL combine (Feb. 27-March 2). A good showing in Indianapolis could solidify his stock before the 2025 NFL Draft takes place from April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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