We have officially entered draft month, which means we are in the home stretch of our 2025 NFL Draft player profile series.
After prioritizing the names that have been the most mocked to the Jacksonville Jaguars over the last few weeks, we can finally get into some wild card scenarios, starting with superstar running back Ashton Jeanty.
The Boise State product not only led the country in rushing last season, but he nearly broke Barry Sanders’ near 40-year-old single-season rushing record. This led to Jeanty being the first running back to win the Maxwell Award since Derrick Henry (2015) and a second-place finish for the Heisman Trophy.
Jeanty had one of the all-time great seasons from a running back in college football history and is absolutely in the discussion to be a top 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. But should he be in play for the Jaguars at fifth overall?
Let’s break down all of his strengths and weaknesses as we determine his projection and fit in this 2025 NFL Draft player profile.
Measurables
Height: 5’ 9 ½”
Weight: 211 lbs
Arm: 29 ¼”
Hand: 9 ¼”
per NFL Scouting Combine
Career Statistics
Rushing attempts: 750
Rushing yards: 4,769 (school record)
Rushing TDs: 50
Receptions: 80
Receiving yards: 862
Receiving TDs: 6
Strengths
Compact frame provides low center of gravity and natural balance
Great short area speed and burst to hit the hole
Runs low, breaks tackles, and falls forward
Superb vision
Very engaged in pass pro
Can get skinny and pull through reaches and wraps
Stamina stands out during longer runs. Maintains speed from start to finish of play
Quick, choppy feet and high knees through traffic
Weaknesses
Wear and tear is somewhat of a concern but not at all unprecedented
Not overly shifty despite some flashes
Top-end speed is not elite
Not a ton of elite NFL running backs have been sub-5’9
Projection and Fit
While running back is far from the most immediate need on the Jaguars’ roster, the talent of Ashton Jeanty could be a legit game-changer when projecting to Liam Coen’s offense.
We all saw what Bucky Irving turned into for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his rookie year in Coen’s scheme. The 2024 fourth-round pick finished sixth in the NFL in all-purpose yards last season and was by far the most impactful rookie rusher from last season.
Imagine Irving but better in every regard. It feels like the sky’s the limit for a back of Jeanty’s caliber in Jacksonville.
Current starter Travis Etienne is coming off back-to-back seasons averaging under four yards per carry. While Tank Bigsby had flashes last season, neither offers the type of upside of Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
Conclusion
There are a handful of other names (many of which we’ve already discussed in our series) that are far more likely to be the pick for Jacksonville at fifth overall than Jeanty, but it’s at least a move you can justify as being a possibility considering all of the above.
Jeanty has everything you want when projecting a running back prospect to the next level and could be just the splash pick this team needs to kick off what’s shaping up to be an exciting new era of Jacksonville Jaguars football.
Grade: 9.3
Big Cat Country NFL Draft Grading Scale
9.5 to 10 – Top-5 lock. Rare attributes both physically and mentally. Clearly the most talented player on the field in college. Game-changing/wrecking projection at the next level. Potential be top-10 at their position right away.
8.5 to 9.4 – Unquestioned first-round prospect. Elite physical and mental profile. Performed consistently at a high level, no matter the competition in college. Expectations to be an immediate impact player.
7.5 to 8.4 – Mixed opinions on first-round projection. Above average physical profile. Considered a great player at respective school but not a household name. Performs admirably against top competition. Potential to be an immediate starter at the next level. 1-2 round pick.
6.5 to 7.4 – Day 2 prospect. Good athlete but can’t match up with the league’s best. Productive collegiate career. Expectation to perform in a rotational role as a rookie. Potential to become a starter over time.
5.5 to 6.4 – Fringe late Day 2/early Day 3 prospect. Admirable athletic profile. More potential than finished product. Lacking necessary measurables at their position but have found ways to win without them. Rotational piece with a role on special teams as well.
4.5 to 5.4– Day 3 prospect. Either a low ceiling athletically or undersized for their position. Potential for red flag of some sort (exp. Injuries, lack of college production, off-field issues etc.). Still provides an element of intrigue when projecting to the next level. Predominately a special teams player.
3.5 to 4.4 – Bottom half of Day 3 prospect. Underwhelming collegiate career (or small school product). Has a singular trait that’s worth a late round swing of the bat. Chance to compete for a roster spot in training camp. Uphill battle to make final 53.
2 to 3.4 - Priority free agent signee. Traits worth exploring. Camp body.
1 to 1.9 – Clearly not of NFL quality. Lacks the necessary athletic, mental, and skill levels to make any contributions in the league.
Other prospects that Dillon has profiled/graded: