With the No. 120 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins drafted running back Jaylen Wright. Here’s everything you need to know about Wright’s game, physical attributes, and journey to the NFL.
How Tall Is Jaylen Wright?
At the NFL Combine, Wright measured in at 5’10 1/2″. This is slightly below the average for an NFL running back, as the average height at the position is 5’10 3/4″. Also, Wright’s arm length is 31′ 1/2″ and his hand span is 9 3/8 inches.
How Much Does Wright Weigh?
Like many speedsters, Wright is on the smaller side in terms of his weight. At the NFL Combine, he weighed in at 210 pounds. Just like his height, this is slightly below the average for his position, as the average NFL running back weighs 214.4 pounds.
How Old Is Wright?
Wright was born on April 1, 2003, making him 21 years old. He’s one of the younger running backs in this year’s rookie class. For comparison, Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum will turn 24 years old during the second half of his rookie season.
What School Did Wright Go To?
In high school, Wright attended the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability in Durham, North Carolina. As a junior, he rushed for 901 yards and five touchdowns. His senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wright was a three-star recruit who received offers from Tennessee, Arizona State, Florida Atlantic, Liberty, NC State, Rutgers, and Syracuse. Wright ultimately committed to Tennessee, where he remained for the entirety of his three-year collegiate career.
Revisiting Wright’s College Career
As a true freshman in 2021, Wright logged 409 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 85 carries.
During his sophomore season in 2022, alongside Jabari Small, he amassed 875 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging six yards per carry.
Small — the veteran of the group — was expected to shoulder the highest volume of the Volunteers’ RB rotation in 2023, but Wright threw a wrench in the plan with his stellar play.
Jaylen Wright 2023 regular season highlights pic.twitter.com/oXwSD5uTbo
— CHANNEL TN (@CHANNEL_TN_)
As a junior, Wright racked up 1,013 yards and four touchdowns on 137 carries, averaging an impressive 7.4 yards per attempt. Wright also caught 22 passes for 141 yards.
After his junior season, Wright was one of the earliest underclassmen to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. An efficient runner and a dynamic big-play threat with a max speed of 23 MPH, Wright’s skill set made him one of the most tantalizing RB prospects in the 2024 draft class. A strong performance at the NFL Combine helped his stock as well.
Wright’s 40-Yard Dash Time
Wright ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds. This was the second-fastest time among running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft behind only San Francisco 49ers fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo, who ran a 4.33.
This blazing speed helped Wright’s draft stock and made him a perfect fit for the Dolphins, who have valued speed above all else in recent years.
Miami ultimately selected Wright with the No. 120 overall pick in the fourth round.