NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Boise State Star and Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty are on his way to Las Vegas Raiders as he becomes the first to run back from the draft of the board as expected.
While Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars were recent potential destinations for Jeanty coming in on Thursday night, it was always Raiders that he was associated with.
A team that fought in the running game tremendously last season and ended in the league in terms of production.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover at Foxnews.com
31 December 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos runs back Ashton Jeanty (2) Practice before Fiesta Bowl against Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Stadium. (Joe Camporeale-Misted Pictures)
Jeanty figures to jump right into Pete Carroll’s violation and get to work with the New Raiders Quarterback Geno Smith, who hand over the ball to him.
Las Vegas continues to build their violation, which also contains Star Brock Bowers, which had the Rookie campaign in 2024 after Raiders took him in the first round.
Get Full 2025 NFL draft coverage with real-time choices, expert analysis and can’t miss moments
Running backs have usually been devalued on the first day of the draft, but Jeanty quickly cemented himself as a top 10 choice after what he was able to show for broncos.
The perfect power balance and speed, Jeanty, at 5-foot-9, 211 pounds, is the homemade back that the teams dream of-thinking Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry find a nail and exploit it for a long touchdown.
Boise State Broncos runs back Ashton Jeanty (2) against the Penn State Nittany Lions under the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024. (Mark J. Revilas-prescribed images)
Jeanty did it a few times a few times. Fight last season where he got 29 rushing touchdowns to finish number two in FBS in this category. He also led the country with 7.0 yard average per year. Carry, and he led NCAA with 2,750 yards for all purposes.
While his explosive speed and cutting ability can make defenders miss, he is also extremely hard to go to the ground, jump off tackles and fight for more than just a few extra yards after contact.
That is why linebackers have to cheat from the outside because the defensive backs were unable to get Jeanty on Earth, even though they had good tackle of shape.
Jeanty spoke a race of at least 50 meters or more in nine of his 14 games last season, and if it wasn’t for Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who went to Cleveland Browns, which was another gathered in this draft, Jeanty would probably have run away with Heisman.
31 December 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos runs back Ashton Jeanty (2) responds after the match against Penn State Nittany Lions in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. (Mark J. Revilas-prescribed images)
Of course, the pros will give bigger players and greater challenges for Jeanty, but many associate him with being a future all-pro, and Raiders certainly hopes that is the case with them.
