The best running back in the 2025 NFL Draft is off the board, as the Las Vegas Raiders have selected Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick. Jeanty is viewed as one of the best players in this class regardless of position, and he finished the 2024 season with the second-most rushing yards (2,601) in a single season in FBS history, falling just 27 rushing yards shy of tying the record Barry Sanders set back in 1988.
Not only is Jeanty shifty between the tackles and tough to bring down, but he’s a home run hitter as well. He crossed 100 rushing yards in all 14 games played last season, and his 13 rushes of at least 50 yards were more than any other FBS team recorded. Jeanty finished second in the Heisman voting behind Travis Hunter this past year. No non-Power conference player had finished that high since Marshall Faulk in 1992.
Running back was a big need for the Raiders, as Pete Carroll needed a bell cow to carry this new-look offense which includes quarterback Geno Smith and star tight end Brock Bowers. First-year general manager John Spytek brought up earlier this month how the NFL world watched Saquon Barkley carry the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl victory in one year. Now, Vegas is hoping a player like Jeanty can help the Raiders take their next step.
Here’s what the Raiders are getting in Jeanty, including his full scouting report, pro comparison, career accolades and overall NFL outlook.
“The Raiders and Pete Carroll want to run the football, so they end up with the best back in the draft. Normally I hate back this high. But this kid is special, Nice pick.” — Pete Prisco
Join us for live 2025 NFL Draft analysis from CBS Sports and an updating NFL Draft tracker. Also check out Pete Prisco’s NFL Draft grades for every first-round pick and subscribe to the “With the First Pick” podcast for nightly recaps, winners and losers and more from Green Bay.
Ashton Jeanty NFL Draft profile
- Age as of Week 1: 21 years old
- Height: 5-foot-8 ½
- Weight: 211 pounds
- Hand size: 9 ¼
CBS prospect ranking
Position: No. 1 RB | Overall: No. 10 overall
NFL comparison: Shorter Marshawn Lynch
While he was never a true home run threat in the NFL, at Cal, Marshawn Lynch busted long runs with good regularity, just like we’ve seen Jeanty do at Boise State. And of course, Lynch was always destructive upon contact with incredible balance after being hit and supremely strong legs to accumulate extra yardage with defenders hanging on him. Those are the same vibes I get with Jeanty, and like Lynch, Jeanty routinely finds holes in traffic between the tackles and can excel in a zone or power scheme. — Chris Trapasso
Ashton Jeanty scouting report
Jeanty is a stocky but fast RB prospect with the best contact balance I’ve ever scouted. He’s essentially impossible to take down on first contact. He can play in a zone or power scheme because he can be a smooth North-South runner or make defenders miss with lateral jukes in the hole. He’s very elusive with light feet. His speed is great but not spectacular, and it won’t be surprising to see him hit some long runs in the NFL. Jeanty’s vision is an asset, too, often running between the tackles and finding tiny creases to squeeze through. He doesn’t provide plus ability as a receiver and had some drops in his final season, but of course he can be a weapon in the screen game, though. Altogether, this is one of the finest RB prospects we’ve seen over the past decade.
About
- 2023-24: Two-time Mountain West player of the Year
- 2024: Most rushing attempts (312), rushing yards (2,288) and rushing touchdowns (28) in FBS. His 2,288 rushing yards are the fifth-most in a single season in FBS history.
- 2024: Most yards after contact (1,695) and missed tackles forced (130) in College Football Playoff-era records (since 2014). His 1,695 yards after contact were more than the total rushing yards of any other FBS player.
Strengths
- Unfathomable contact balance
- Plus speed to accelerate past defenders downfield
- Awesome between-the-tackles vision
Weaknesses
- Shorter/smaller than most power RBs
- Not a plus receiver
- Played lesser-ish competition
CBS Sports takes an in-depth look at Ashton Jeanty as a draft prospect.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Jeff Van Gundy has been the Clippers’ not-so-secret weapon on defense all year long
The LA Clippers have been a winning program every regular season since the 2011 lockout ended. What they haven’t always been is a top defense.The highest ranked defense of Vinny Del Negro’s tenure was being No. 8 in 2012-13, which was his final season. In Doc Rivers’ seven seasons as head coach, the Clippers only had three top-10 defenses, peaking at fifth in 2015-16 and Rivers’ final season in 2019-20. Tyronn Lue’s defense ranked eighth in 2021 and ’22 but slipped to 17th in 2023 and 16th in ’24.AdvertisementThe solution for Lue’s 2024-25 Clippers? Jeff Van Gundy.He was hired as lead assistant coach and Lue’s defensive coordinator after spending the 2023-24 season as a senior consultant with the NBA champion Boston Celtics. Before last season, Van Gundy was on ESPN’s top broadcast team for 16 seasons after ending four years […]
Shaquille O’Neal joins Sacramento State men’s basketball program as GM
Shaquille O’Neal has joined the Sacramento State men’s basketball program as general manager, the school confirmed Tuesday, making him the latest star to attach his name to a college program in a new trend this offseason.O’Neal will join first-year coach Mike Bibby’s program in an unpaid, voluntary capacity. His son, Shaqir O’Neal, recently transferred to Sacramento State after spending his junior season at Florida A&M and first three collegiate seasons with Texas Southern.AdvertisementBibby, the longtime NBA guard who spent more than six seasons with the Sacramento Kings, was hired as men’s basketball coach in March.ESPN first reported the news of O’Neal agreeing to join Sacramento State.Multiple college programs have turned to current or former NBA stars this offseason to fill GM-type capacities. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry joined his alma mater, Davidson, as the men’s basketball GM in March […]
„Ich glaube fest an diesen Fußball!“ – Welche Barça-Legende Flicks Spielstil adelt
Ein Neu-Trainer spricht in den höchsten Tönen über den aktuell vielleicht erfolgreichsten Trainer der Welt!Ex-Barça-Torwart Victor Valdes ist ein Eigengewächs des Vereins, rückte 2002 von der Jugend in die erste Mannschaft auf. Erst zwölf Jahre später verließ er den Klub. Zwölf Jahre, in denen er Superstars wie Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi und Xavi zu seinen Teamkollegen zählen durfte. Ein Barça-Team gespickt mit Legenden: Ronaldinho (45, oben links), Lionel Messi (37, Mitte unten), Xavi (45, vorne 2. v. l.) und Keeper Victor Valdes (43, oben rechts)Foto: picture-alliance / Pressefoto ULMER<!-->]-->Valdes, der jetzt den Trainerposten von Real Avila angetreten hat, weiß also, wovon er redet, wenn er sagt: „Ich schaue Barça wirklich gerne, weil der Trainer erkannt hat, wohin sich der Fußball entwickelt hat und dem 4-3-3 eine andere Note mit einer anderen Dynamik verleihen konnte.“ Und: „Ich genieße es wirklich, ihnen zuzusehen. […]
Snyder’s Soapbox: Baseball’s acronym overload has created a language no one actually speaks
Getty Images Welcome to Snyder's Soapbox! Here, I pontificate about matters related to Major League Baseball on a weekly basis. Some of the topics will be pressing matters, some might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and most will be somewhere in between. The good thing about this website is that it's free, and you are allowed to click away. If you stay, you'll get smarter, though. That's a money-back guarantee. Let's get to it.This is going to be a playful one, so anyone getting serious, check out right now, please. Are you ready for acronym overload? Surely you are. You've been living in our current world. Quick, who leads the majors in xwOBAcon this season? It's Aaron Judge, but we didn't need that stat to proclaim that he's been the best hitter in baseball this season, did we? I'm not […]
Na počest zesnulého papeže Františka začne poslední etapa Gira ve Vatikánu
„Řím je zvláštní místo, muzeum pod širým nebem. A letos bude mít ještě něco navíc. Etapa bude začínat ve Vatikánu a bude celá věnována zesnulému papeži. Účastníci Gira by měli odjet od Porta del Perugino, vstupní brány na náměstí,“ řekl šéf pořádající organizace Urbano Cairo.Giro d'Italia začne popatnácté v zahraničí, tentokrát 9. května poprvé v Albánii.Papež František zemřel na Velikonoční pondělí na mozkovou mrtvici v 88 letech. O pět dnů později se s ním na zaplněném Svatopetrském náměstí naposledy rozloučila veřejnost, obřadu se zúčastnilo na náměstí a v jeho okolí zhruba 250.000 lidí.
William Scull defends himself before fighting Canelo Alvarez and sends a message to the De La Hoyas and more: “No, I’m not a bum”
Some wanted David Benavidez, others wanted the rematch against Dmitry Bivol, or even to see him again against Golovkin (unlikely), but the reality is that Canelo Alvarez will face William Scull in Saudi Arabia, and it is the Cuban who responds to all the famous detractors and not so famous, flaunting his resume to remind them why he is the chosen one.In his first words prior to the fight this Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, William Scull responded to critics such as Oscar de la Hoya and Juan Manuel Marquez, who have criticized and claimed that the fighter is not at the level of Saul AlvarezLike a sheikh! Canelo welcomed with flowers in Saudi Arabia ahead of his big fight"To each their own, everyone has their own taste, their own way of thinking […]
Related
Jeff Van Gundy has been the Clippers’ not-so-secret weapon on defense all year long
The LA Clippers have been a winning program every regular season since the 2011 lockout ended. What they haven’t always been is a top defense.The highest ranked defense of Vinny Del Negro’s tenure was being No. 8 in 2012-13, which was his final season. In Doc Rivers’ seven seasons as head coach, the Clippers only had three top-10 defenses, peaking at fifth in 2015-16 and Rivers’ final season in 2019-20. Tyronn Lue’s defense ranked eighth in 2021 and ’22 but slipped to 17th in 2023 and 16th in ’24.AdvertisementThe solution for Lue’s 2024-25 Clippers? Jeff Van Gundy.He was hired as lead assistant coach and Lue’s defensive coordinator after spending the 2023-24 season as a senior consultant with the NBA champion Boston Celtics. Before last season, Van Gundy was on ESPN’s top broadcast team for 16 seasons after ending four years […]
Shaquille O’Neal joins Sacramento State men’s basketball program as GM
Shaquille O’Neal has joined the Sacramento State men’s basketball program as general manager, the school confirmed Tuesday, making him the latest star to attach his name to a college program in a new trend this offseason.O’Neal will join first-year coach Mike Bibby’s program in an unpaid, voluntary capacity. His son, Shaqir O’Neal, recently transferred to Sacramento State after spending his junior season at Florida A&M and first three collegiate seasons with Texas Southern.AdvertisementBibby, the longtime NBA guard who spent more than six seasons with the Sacramento Kings, was hired as men’s basketball coach in March.ESPN first reported the news of O’Neal agreeing to join Sacramento State.Multiple college programs have turned to current or former NBA stars this offseason to fill GM-type capacities. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry joined his alma mater, Davidson, as the men’s basketball GM in March […]
„Ich glaube fest an diesen Fußball!“ – Welche Barça-Legende Flicks Spielstil adelt
Ein Neu-Trainer spricht in den höchsten Tönen über den aktuell vielleicht erfolgreichsten Trainer der Welt!Ex-Barça-Torwart Victor Valdes ist ein Eigengewächs des Vereins, rückte 2002 von der Jugend in die erste Mannschaft auf. Erst zwölf Jahre später verließ er den Klub. Zwölf Jahre, in denen er Superstars wie Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi und Xavi zu seinen Teamkollegen zählen durfte. Ein Barça-Team gespickt mit Legenden: Ronaldinho (45, oben links), Lionel Messi (37, Mitte unten), Xavi (45, vorne 2. v. l.) und Keeper Victor Valdes (43, oben rechts)Foto: picture-alliance / Pressefoto ULMER<!-->]-->Valdes, der jetzt den Trainerposten von Real Avila angetreten hat, weiß also, wovon er redet, wenn er sagt: „Ich schaue Barça wirklich gerne, weil der Trainer erkannt hat, wohin sich der Fußball entwickelt hat und dem 4-3-3 eine andere Note mit einer anderen Dynamik verleihen konnte.“ Und: „Ich genieße es wirklich, ihnen zuzusehen. […]
Snyder’s Soapbox: Baseball’s acronym overload has created a language no one actually speaks
Getty Images Welcome to Snyder's Soapbox! Here, I pontificate about matters related to Major League Baseball on a weekly basis. Some of the topics will be pressing matters, some might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and most will be somewhere in between. The good thing about this website is that it's free, and you are allowed to click away. If you stay, you'll get smarter, though. That's a money-back guarantee. Let's get to it.This is going to be a playful one, so anyone getting serious, check out right now, please. Are you ready for acronym overload? Surely you are. You've been living in our current world. Quick, who leads the majors in xwOBAcon this season? It's Aaron Judge, but we didn't need that stat to proclaim that he's been the best hitter in baseball this season, did we? I'm not […]
Na počest zesnulého papeže Františka začne poslední etapa Gira ve Vatikánu
„Řím je zvláštní místo, muzeum pod širým nebem. A letos bude mít ještě něco navíc. Etapa bude začínat ve Vatikánu a bude celá věnována zesnulému papeži. Účastníci Gira by měli odjet od Porta del Perugino, vstupní brány na náměstí,“ řekl šéf pořádající organizace Urbano Cairo.Giro d'Italia začne popatnácté v zahraničí, tentokrát 9. května poprvé v Albánii.Papež František zemřel na Velikonoční pondělí na mozkovou mrtvici v 88 letech. O pět dnů později se s ním na zaplněném Svatopetrském náměstí naposledy rozloučila veřejnost, obřadu se zúčastnilo na náměstí a v jeho okolí zhruba 250.000 lidí.
William Scull defends himself before fighting Canelo Alvarez and sends a message to the De La Hoyas and more: “No, I’m not a bum”
Some wanted David Benavidez, others wanted the rematch against Dmitry Bivol, or even to see him again against Golovkin (unlikely), but the reality is that Canelo Alvarez will face William Scull in Saudi Arabia, and it is the Cuban who responds to all the famous detractors and not so famous, flaunting his resume to remind them why he is the chosen one.In his first words prior to the fight this Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, William Scull responded to critics such as Oscar de la Hoya and Juan Manuel Marquez, who have criticized and claimed that the fighter is not at the level of Saul AlvarezLike a sheikh! Canelo welcomed with flowers in Saudi Arabia ahead of his big fight"To each their own, everyone has their own taste, their own way of thinking […]
Be the first to leave a comment