Ashton Jeanty is on his option to the NFL. The previous Boise State working again and 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up formally declared for the NFL Draft on Friday the place he tasks to be the primary working again off the board.
He launched an announcement on social media asserting his determination.
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 one of the best working again in school soccer the previous two seasons and is coming off a very dominant 2024 season that noticed him problem Barry Sanders’ single-season dashing document.
There needs to be little debate as as to if or not he is without doubt one of the finest 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 mistaken place to be a very excessive choose.
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 general in 2018, whereas the Atlanta Falcons took Bijan Robinson No. 8 general in 2022.
Apart from that, it has turn out to be more and more exceptional for working backs to go within the high half of the draft, and particularly within the high 10.
It’s not that groups don’t need good working backs; it’s merely the truth that it’s actually troublesome to begin constructing a staff across the place. Not solely do working backs have one of many shortest careers of any place within the league, however additionally they have the shortest peaks and are extraordinarily depending on the staff round them.
You want a robust offensive line, quarterback and a profitable passing recreation to assist open up the working recreation. With out these different items in place, you run the chance of losing that high choose on a working again.
In a means, that could possibly be excellent news for Jeanty. The additional he falls down the board, the extra doubtless it’s he results in a great spot and on staff that would give him the kind of supporting solid he must make an instantaneous impression within the NFL.
