Ashton Jeanty has grown from being Travis Hunter’s biggest nightmare to the pro league’s next big thing. Remember when Jeanty turned UNLV’s defense into a highlight reel and left Travis Hunter reeling on December 6th? That 21-0 lead Boise State grabbed after Jeanty’s long touchdown run didn’t just light up the scoreboard—it lit the fuse on the hype train. Just ask Chris Vannini, who posted “Big 12 counter-programming Ashton Jeanty” in response to Travis Hunter’s highlight reel. Since then, the buzz hasn’t stopped.

Jeanty didn’t win the Heisman, but being runner-up after the season he had? That’s still elite territory. The running back shattered Cedric Minter’s 44-year-old school record for career rushing yards and dropped a season for the books: 2,601 rushing yards, second only to Barry Sanders in single-season CFB history. He added 29 touchdowns and averaged 7.0 yards per carry. That’s the kind of résumé that screams top draft pick—and now the NFL is officially paying attention.

Even Aaron Rodgers noticed. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers didn’t hold back. “I haven’t seen one draft prospect film or anything. I mean, I watched some college football for sure. I did see the running back from Boise State. He was at UCLA the day that DK and I worked out,” Rodgers shared. Then came the six words that changed everything…“And he is a specimen now.”

Rodgers continued the praise, saying, “He’s put together well,” and even compared him to Bijan Robinson—the Falcons’ No. 8 overall pick in 2023. “And I think, I don’t know, maybe Bijan Robinson, who’s the last running back doing the top 10, I think he’s probably going top 10. And, I mean, just the eye test he passes.” That’s right. Aaron Rodgers—one of the smartest minds in the game—essentially stamped Jeanty as a top-ten pick. And right now, Vegas oddsmakers are on board, too.

Ashton Jeanty currently sits as a -125 favorite to go sixth overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. It turns out that Jeanty sees the Raiders as a perfect fit. And he’s not just going off fan chatter—he’s thinking football logic.

“It’s no surprise to me that I’m mocked to go there (at 6, to Las Vegas), being that their recent hires and Pete Carroll, we know his coaching style, we know he likes to run the ball, likes a great running back,” Jeanty said. He doubled down on the Raiders’ setup: “And you know, also, other people that they’ve brought on their staff, like Chip Kelly and Deland McCullough, you know, great running back coach.” So you’ve got a power back with elite college numbers, NFL buzz, and an admiration for Marshawn Lynch—Carroll’s former RB1. The dots connect themselves.

But Vegas isn’t the only franchise sniffing around. Jeanty told Rich Eisen that the Dallas Cowboys have been in light contact: “Yeah, just a little bit.” The Cowboys may be targeting defense first, especially Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen to pair with Micah Parsons, but Jeanty says playing for his hometown squad would be special.

“I think it would be a great opportunity. It would be awesome because I grew up here. You know, a lot of people would love to play for their… hometown team where they grew up a little bit, played high school football… I think it’ll be a great opportunity to play for any team in the National Football League.” The bottom line? Wherever Jeanty goes, he’s making sure people know he’s more than ready.

Ashton Jeanty’s $41M vision: inspired by Barkley, backed by boldness

Jeanty has been watching the Super Bowl-winning Eagles closely—and what he saw gave him a vision. After watching Saquon Barkley run wild during the Eagles’ championship run, Jeanty felt something stir. He wrote an open letter in The Players’ Tribune, speaking directly to NFL general managers:

“I watched it and I thought something different. I thought, That can be me.” And it’s not just confidence. It’s conviction.

Growing up in a military family, Jeanty was built on grit and discipline. He’s not pitching empty hype—he’s offering leadership, effort, and a winning mindset from Day 1. “If you pick me, it’s simple: I’m coming to your franchise to do what Saquon and the Eagles just did. I’m coming to win, big, soon. It’s TACKLE football … you know what I’m saying? I’d draft the guy they can’t tackle.” Now that’s not just a player talking—that’s a franchise-changer speaking.

Last season, Saquon Barkley’s resurgence reminded everyone just how impactful elite running backs can still be. His power, burst, and leadership helped guide Philly to the title—and the front office rewarded him with a $41 million extension over two years.

Jeanty took notes. He sees the changing winds in the NFL and believes his timing couldn’t be better. “It’s a great time to be coming into this league,” Jeanty said back in February. “I can see the value of running backs is definitely going to go back up. Definitely coming back in at a perfect time.”

And he’s right. The narrative that running backs are replaceable? Barkley just tore that to shreds—and Jeanty’s poised to do the same on Sundays. Ashton Jeanty didn’t just run his way into the conversation; he owned it. From trucking defenders on Mountain West Saturdays to getting name-dropped by Aaron Rodgers on national TV, this isn’t some flash-in-the-pan hype. This is a top prospect whose stock is skyrocketing.