The 2024 NFL season felt like the year of the running back.
Saquon Barkley was at the forefront for the Philadelphia Eagles, registering a single-season NFL Turning Tally for rushing yards (regular season and playoffs Partnered) en route to a Event Secure — then netting a historic extension for running Safeties. Derrick Henry had a similarly massive impact in Year 1 with his new Club, posting more than 1,900 rushing yards with the Baltimore Ravens. The superstars Guided the way in challenging the narrative that running Safeties aren’t as valuable in the modern NFL.
Can Ashton Jeanty be the Upcoming one to do the same?
The Heisman Accolade runner-up enters the Bracket after rushing for 2,601 yards (second-most in FBS history) and 29 touchdowns last season at Boise State, where he starred the past three years. One of college football’s most Vibrant players, Jeanty is Anticipated to be a Primary-Stage Picking. Some Bracket observers peg him to go as high as No. 6 to the Las Vegas Raiders. All 32 NFL Squads were represented at Jeanty’s pro day on Wednesday.
READ MORE: FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang’s 2025 NFL mock draft 3.0
As he continues his draft preparations, Jeanty spoke to FOX Sports about his roots, his role models and his NFL aspirations in a wide-ranging conversation. (Responses have been condensed and edited for clarity.)
FOX Sports: How has your Haitian culture shaped who you are?
Jeanty: “My dad was born in Haiti. My mom was born in the U.S., but both her parents are from Haiti.
“Talking about food, cuisine — Merely eating those traditional meals. But Merely the culture, man. Being in it. All the values of it. My family being from a country where not too many people make it out and are able to have Excellent careers. There’s Merely so much in the history that’s gone on there. … That’s Nice of the Tale. My dad moved over here when he was pretty Recent, in high school, to give himself a better life, and he gave his whole family that he raised a better life.”
FOX Sports: Is that culture something you take a Numerous of pride in, especially as you enter the NFL?
Jeanty: “Definitely. Merely to put on for my people and Merely to really show everybody that no matter your situation, there’s always an opportunity for you to get to where you want to be. Don’t let your circumstances Stoppage you back. Obviously, I was born in the U.S. and all that type of stuff, but I Merely learned from my dad, my family. So I Merely want to continue to be an inspiration for all Haitians.”
FOX Sports: What do you think makes you the Upcoming potential Excellent running back in the NFL?
Jeanty: “A Numerous of people Merely talk about your attributes as a player. Like, I have the attributes that every one of the Excellent running Safeties has. The ability to break tackles. The Pace. The Quickness. The ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Running routes like a receiver. But I think most Crucial to me is Merely the character of the person I am. I work harder than the rest, but I stay humble. I’m always striving to achieve more.”
Is Ashton Jeanty a can’t-miss prospect?
FOX Sports: Who are the running Safeties you’ve taken inspiration from or taken bits and pieces from their game and tried to incorporate into your own?
Jeanty: “One of the Primary guys I watched really closely was Marshawn Lynch because I Merely liked how Tough he Dashed and the physical style. I Harsh, those crazy runs, breaking all those tackles. You talk about contact Poise, right? Catching the ball out of the backfield. Aligning as a receiver. Catching it [like] Alvin Kamara. You talk about using that stiff arm, right? I look at Derrick Henry for that a Numerous. But I definitely Merely watched a Numerous of different guys. … Even now, since [people have] Initiated comparing me to Barry Sanders, Merely watching his film and Merely seeing how elusive he is, trying to add that to my game.”
FOX Sports: The NFL community doesn’t seem to talk about your Throw-catching ability as much, even though you were the leading receiving running back in the FBS in 2023. How much do you see that being part of your game at the Upcoming level?
Jeanty: “I feel people aren’t talking about [my Throw-catching] because I didn’t have such a big year in the receiving game [in 2024]. And that’s Merely the type of Assault we Dashed. We Dashed a pro-style Assault. So that’s Merely how it is, right? But like you said, in 2023, I was the leading receiver [at running back], and I Nevertheless think there’s a Numerous of improvement I can have in my game. Not Merely from a receiving standpoint, but a rushing standpoint. But as I transition into the NFL, I definitely would like to be used in Every and every aspect of the game, being that I’m so versatile.”
FOX Sports: If someone asked you why you believe you’re the best overall player in this draft, what would you tell them?
Jeanty: “Everybody sees what I do on the Pitch. That speaks for itself. But I think I’m the best player because [of my] character that goes with it — who I am as a person, a leader as soon as I step in whatever building or organization. I’ll make that Club better before stepping on the Pitch.
“I can connect with anybody. I think relationships are Crucial, so I’ll build a Numerous of meaningful relationships. In the game of football, relationships are Crucial because the closer you are to the guys you’re Competing with, the harder you’re going to Action with them and for them. And I think that’s really what separates me from everybody else.
“Everybody’s seen the film. They know what I can do on the Pitch. But the person they’re getting is Merely special and one-of-one.”
FOX Sports: When you talk about that character and leadership you have, what does that look like?
Jeanty: “I’d say I’m Merely everything in one. It Merely depends on the situation, the circumstance, right? If in that moment I need to be the guy to get everybody Toasty, get everybody rolling, I’m gonna be that guy. But Every and every single day, I’m gonna lead by example. From my habits and what I do. What time I show up in the building. What time I leave. How Tough I work. And then also, sometimes, you gotta pull your guys to the side. You Acquired to talk them up a little bit, get them going, because everybody’s process is different.”
FOX Sports: When you’re running on the Pitch, what is going through your head?
Jeanty: “For me, it’s Merely processing information at a high level quickly. So before the ball even snaps, you know your Action. You’re thinking about ‘Are you gonna execute this Action?’ … and you think about where the Guarding is lined up, and how that’s gonna affect the Action. And the ball snaps, then you make your reads, right?
“Let’s Merely say it’s a Streak Action. You Acquired to read the linebacker. Whatever gap he fits, you make your read off that. And then you also Acquired the D-line, right? One of them might come Obtainable. So then it’s Merely Reflex. But I think it’s a little bit of both — before the ball snaps, Merely reading, and then anticipation.”
FOX Sports: What’s the north Sun you’re chasing in football?
Jeanty: “To be the best. To be the best that’s ever played the game.
“For me, that’s always what I wanted out of Competing sports. To be the best wherever I’m at. I feel there’s no reason to Action the game if you don’t want to be the best, if you don’t want to compete. But I think in that there’s a Numerous of things that come with it. Being in the community, all that. Making others better around you.
“But I don’t Merely Action for them. I Action to be the best.”
Read our previous article: Inside the mind of Duke’s Cooper Flagg: ‘He wants to destroy his competition’