HEIGHT: 5'9"

WEIGHT: 215

POSITIVES

— Strong running style with a compact and densely built frame.

— Near elite-contact balance, difficult to bring down on first attempts.

— Patient runner who sets up and follows blocks to daylight.

— Good burst and acceleration to explode through the initial layers of the defense.

— Lateral explosiveness, strings together cuts in bunches.

NEGATIVES

— Pad-level needs to be lower, runs tall.

— Pass-protection technique needs refining.

— Avoiding tackles and big hits instead of attempting to absorb them.

— Lateral explosiveness to press and escape on inside run attempts.

NOTES

— Born Dec. 02, 2003

— 4-star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2023 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year; All-Mountain West First Team

OVERALL

Ashton Jeanty is a naturally talented running back with a manipulative rushing style.

Jeanty is a patient runner who tempers his pace to allow his OL time to engage and secure their blocking assignments. With plus-level vision, he quickly finds daylight through designated gaps. Jeanty uses quick and decisive footwork to sift through the defensive front seven, breaking into the open field. He is advanced at navigating traffic and congested quarters once he breaks the first level of the defense.

Jeanty has an elite-level contact balance and is difficult to bring down. He pinballs off defenders and absorbs their attempted tackles while staying on his feet. Jeanty is a yards-after-contact merchant—his ability to get stronger upon defensive contact is impressive. Jeanty is a momentum runner who powers through arm tackles and delivers a stiff arm to break free from defenders. His burst and acceleration possess enough juice or explosive to pop through the line of scrimmage and reach top speed quickly in the open field. He has multiple long/explosive touchdown runs on his resume this season against Mountain West competition.

Jeanty must be stopped at the line of scrimmage or behind it. He is most vulnerable as a ball carrier when he cannot build forward momentum. Despite having a good burst to reach top speed quickly, there is no next gear after that. This raises questions on whether his ability to generate big plays (50+ yards) will translate to the NFL at the frequency it has in college. There are concerns about Jeanty's ability to win the corner and outrun pursuit angles.

Jeanty is a willing and competitive pass protector, but his technique needs refining. His hands and punches can be sloppy, leading to not securing his defender. At times, he approaches blocks with low hands, giving up his chest to second-level defenders attacking downhill with momentum. Jeanty does not showcase explosive lateral abilities—he can get caught between the tackles when pressing the LOS. Jeanty's jump cuts do not cover much ground to counter defensive run fits on inside runs.

Overall, Ashton Jeanty is a high-volume and playmaking running back. Between his bowling ball-esque frame and innate contact balance, Jeanty's game translates incredibly well to the NFL. He fits today's run offenses with wide zone and pin-pull gap schemes. Jeanty is a bell-cow running back who can shoulder the load for an NFL rushing attack.

GRADE: 8.8 (Impact player — 1st Round)

OVERALL RANK: 10

POSITION RANK: RB1

PRO COMPARISON: DeAngelo Williams

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.