One of the most hyped running back prospects in recent memory, Ashton Jeanty was a game-changing force in college football. His combination of speed and explosiveness made him a nightmare matchup.
Before he gets drafted, let’s learn more about this possible future face of the league. Many are wondering where Jeanty went to school, and how he climbed draft boards to become a first-rounder and a potential top-10 pick? Here’s everything you need to know about the potential star and his journey to the NFL.
How Tall Is Ashton Jeanty?
At the NFL Combine, Jeanty measured in at exactly 5’8 1/2”. For comparison, the average NFL running back is 5 feet 10.6 inches, so Jeanty is slightly below the average height.
The tallest active running back in the NFL is Baltimore Ravens’ Derick Henry, who is 6’2″. Deuce Vaughn of the Dallas Cowboys is the shortest at 5’5”.
How Much Does Jeanty Weigh?
Jeanty weighed in at 211 pounds, which is again slightly below the average at his position (215 pounds). The heaviest NFL running back is Henry, who weighs 246 pounds.
How Old Is Jeanty?
Jeanty was born on December 2, 2003, and is 21 years old. With this year’s draft class having a higher average age, Jeanty is on the younger end of the spectrum.
What School Did Jeanty Go To?
Ashton Jeanty was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but played his high school football at Lone Star High School in Texas. Jeanty grew up in a military family — his father was in the Navy, which led to Jeanty moving often as a child. His travels included a stint in Naples, Italy, where he played football against other military-base kids.
Jeanty attended his senior year at Lone Star High School and rushed for 1,843 yards and 41 touchdowns. He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and was heavily pursued by a number of schools across the country. Jeanty ultimately chose Boise State over schools such as Kansas and Cal, and he quickly became the prize of the Broncos’ 2022 recruiting class.
Revisiting Jeanty’s College Career
Jeanty quickly became a factor and was a key cog in Boise State’s offense, even as a true freshman. Jeanty ran for 821 yards and seven touchdowns while splitting carries with George Holani. Then, Jeanty made all of college football take notice in 2023 by rushing for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns while also adding 569 receiving yards and five receiving scores.
Entering 2024, Jeanty was not just established as one of the best collegiate running backs, but he appeared likely to eventually be an early-round draft pick. Jeanty had multiple NIL offers from bigger Power 4 schools, but he opted to stay loyal and remain in Boise for his final season.
That proved to be a prudent decision, as Jeanty put together a historical season by rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns while leading Boise State to its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Following the Broncos’ loss to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl, Jeanty decided to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
How Fast Was Jeanty’s 40-Yard Dash?
Jeanty skipped the on-field drills at the NFL Combine but participated in team meetings. He didn’t run the 40-yard dash at his pro day as well, but according to NFL Draft Buzz, his time is 4.42 seconds.
Jeanty’s NFL Draft Outlook
In PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft by Brentley Weissman, Jeanty is projected to be picked No.6 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. Here’s what Weissman wrote about the projection:
“With the Las Vegas Raiders addressing the quarterback position with the addition of Geno Smith, adding a star running back to round out their offense makes a ton of sense. The Raiders were one of the league’s worst rushing offenses last season and desperately need more juice in their RB room.
“Ashton Jeanty is an electric running back who flashes the speed, vision, and contact balance to excel as a primary ball carrier. He would give the Raiders a Pro Bowl talent at the position.”
