Ashton Jeanty is on his technique to the NFL. The previous Boise State operating again and 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up formally declared for the NFL Draft on Friday the place he tasks to be the primary operating again off the board.
He launched an announcement on social media saying his choice.
The one query now’s the place he goes within the draft, and the way early he’ll come off the board.
Jeanty has been the most effective operating again in faculty soccer the previous two seasons and is coming off a very dominant 2024 season that noticed him problem Barry Sanders’ single-season speeding document.
There ought to be little debate as as to whether or not he is without doubt one of the greatest gamers within the draft. He’s. He’s a possible game-changing, big-play again who might present a raise to any offense. The issue he’s going to run into is that he performs the fallacious place to be a very excessive decide.
Operating again has been devalued a lot over the previous 10-20 years that groups very not often take them early within the draft besides in excessive and particular circumstances.
The New York Giants took Saquon Barkley No. 2 total in 2018, whereas the Atlanta Falcons took Bijan Robinson No. 8 total in 2022.
Aside from that, it has change into more and more unparalleled for operating backs to go within the high half of the draft, and particularly within the high 10.
It isn’t that groups don’t want good operating backs; it’s merely the truth that it’s actually troublesome to begin constructing a staff across the place. Not solely do operating backs have one of many shortest careers of any place within the league, however in addition they have the shortest peaks and are extraordinarily depending on the staff round them.
You want a powerful offensive line, quarterback and a profitable passing sport to assist open up the operating sport. With out these different items in place, you run the danger of losing that high decide on a operating again.
In a approach, that could possibly be excellent news for Jeanty. The additional he falls down the board, the extra seemingly it’s he results in a great place and on staff that might give him the kind of supporting solid he must make a right away influence within the NFL.
