Boise State Broncos star running back Ashton Jeanty has officially announced he is foregoing his senior season and declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jeanty is projected to be the first running back off the board, and he received an outpouring of support from fans.
Heisman Trophy Runner-Up Foregoes Senior Season; Declares for NFL Draft
Jeanty, the runner-up to Colorado’s Travis Hunter for the Heisman Trophy, is one of the top running back prospects to enter the NFL Draft in several years. Jeanty is projected to be a first-round selection, and he made the announcement on his X account.
Bronco 4L🐴💙 #deuce pic.twitter.com/gtrKJUcDOd
— Deuce 2️⃣ (@AshtonJeanty2) January 7, 2025
“I want to thank Boise State and the coaches who recruited me and gave me a chance to show my greatness,” Jeanty said. “The community is what makes this place special, and the support and love from Bronco Nation is unmatched.”
Entering the 2025 NFL Draft cycle, Jeanty grades out as a near blue-chip RB prospect, worthy of early-to-mid first-round capital. Though positional value may drop Jeanty to the late-first or early-second round, he’s a potentially special RB prospect with rare creative ability.
At first glance, Jeanty’s size — 5’8 1/4″ — seems diminutive. But in truth, it’s one of his greatest strengths. At around 5’8″ with a rocked-up 217-pound frame, Jeanty has elite running leverage and compact mass. That, in tandem with his other traits, makes him extremely hard to take down.
Jeanty has the baseline vision, explosiveness, and physicality that all offensive coordinators covet in their ball carriers. But the Boise State RB takes things three steps further with his extraordinary creative framework — a framework that’s assuredly translatable in the NFL.
As a creative threat, Jeanty possesses a devastating elusion fusion that combines crisp agility, lower-body flexibility, post-cut explosiveness, effortless contact balance, and a sixth-sense level of spatial understanding and feel. That fusion makes him almost 1-of-1.
As a natural runner, Jeanty inspires awe. And as a receiving threat, he has immense upside as well. Not only is he a natural catcher, but his skill set is extremely conducive to yards after catch, and he has the fluidity and energy in his motion to supplement a full route tree.
At his size, Jeanty will always have some slight limitations as a pass blocker, but even there, he gives great effort and has enough strength.
Simply put, Jeanty is a complete three-down volume back with the devastating creative ability to give defenses nightmares for years on end.
In Pro Football Network’s most recent 2025 NFL mock draft, Jeanty was projected to go No. 6 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. Here’s what Reese Decker had to say about the selection: “The Raiders opted to move on from running back Josh Jacobs just a year after he earned the rushing crown for the Silver and Black, with hopes that Zamir White could replicate similar production. Jacobs, part of the running back renaissance, continued to excel in Green Bay while White regressed, and the Raiders churned out the league’s worst rushing offense.
“It’s safe to assume the Raiders now hold a brand new appreciation for the value of that position, especially on a unit that lacks a franchise quarterback. The 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up is a bona fide blue-chip prospect and generational talent. He is a dynamic playmaker who possesses elite contact balance, remarkable power and durability, dangerous top-end speed, and the ability to flip the field on a single cut. He has the ability to be an instant game-changer and a foundational piece for a rebuilding organization.”
After Jeanty announced that he was declaring for the NFL Draft, many fans took to X to voice their support for the generational talent.
You’re going to kill it at the next level! It was a blast watching you the last few years – thanks for your integrity and commitment to Boise State! 🐐
— Mark Wennstrom (@WennstromMark) January 8, 2025
“You’re going to kill it at the next level! It was a blast watching you the last few years – thanks for your integrity and commitment to Boise State!” one fan posted.
“Can’t wait to watch the deuce cut loose in the NFL!”, another fan said.
“best RB prospect since Saquon,” another fan posted.
best RB prospect since Saquon
— 🦅Coop〽️ (@QuinyonClamps) January 7, 2025
Of course, most were hoping their favorite team would draft him. A ton of Dallas Cowboys fans, in particular, made their voices heard.
“So, how long until he’s a Cowboy,” a Dallas fan wrote.
“How high does Jeanty get taken? What team are you hoping he goes to for fantasy purposes? I personally think Jerry Jones is salavating right now!” another added.
“Man, I am NOT ready for this dude to be a Cowboy… 😅” one fan said. “He’s gonna ball out regardless of where he goes, as long as he also gets good O-Line to help block for him, too.”
Man, I am NOT ready for this dude to be a Cowboy… 😅
He's gonna ball out regardless of where he goes, as long as he also gets good O-Line to help block for him, too.
— 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓴 (@tw1st3d_alt) January 7, 2025
“Future Bengals Legend WOW!!!” another fan said.
“He is going to look great as a Bronco in the orange blue,” one fan said.
“Hope Washington Commanders get him instead of Dallas Cowboys,” another added.
As a junior, Jeanty rushed 374 times for 2,601 yards (7.0 yards per attempt) and 29 touchdowns while also catching 23 passes for 138 yards and one score through the air. Jeanty finished just 28 yards short of Barry Sanders’ NCAA single-season rushing record.
Jeanty had a number of impressive performances throughout his junior season, including a 267-yard, six-touchdown performance against Georgia Southern, followed by an impressive 192-yard, three-TD game against a top-tier Oregon team. Also, he rushed for 259 yards and four scores against Washington State.