Ashton Jeanty is Saquon Barkley 2.0 and can prove ‘running back is back’ after Quadzilla changed NFL
The only question for Ashton Jeanty is how high he will go. Thanks to Saquon Barkley‘s Super Bowl dominance, running backs are fashionable again and the 2025 NFL Draft could feature several names selected in the first round. GettyAshton Jeanty is expected to be a top NFL Draft pick in 2025[/caption] “Running back is back,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller exclusively told talkSPORT. “It’s importantly back for teams that have the quarterback position settled. “Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs — they go to teams with starting quarterbacks who are good starting quarterbacks, and they were able to supplement those offenses really, really well. Saquon, famously, with nearly a record setting season.” Jeanty has already made it clear that he was inspired by Barkley’s 2024 Super Bowl run with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former Boise State star went viral this week by comparing himself to a ‘Quadzilla’ who almost broke the NFL’s single-season rushing record. “If you pick me, it’s simple: I’m coming to your franchise to do what Saquon and the Eagles just did,” Jeanty wrote in the Players Tribune. “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.” TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State), Cam Skattebo (Arizona State), Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State), Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) and Jeanty (Boise State) top the list of prospects who could soon be starting in pro backfields. Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders and Abdul Carter are the biggest names in a draft that still features some uncertainty among the elite picks. Jeanty finished second to Travis Hunter in Heisman Trophy votingGetty GettySaquon Barkley reminded the NFL of the power of running backs[/caption] GettyTreVeyon Henderson won the College Football Playoff championship at Ohio State[/caption] But Miller believes one big question has already been answered. NFL teams believe in running backs again, and a copycat league will look to replicate the Eagles’ Super Bowl success. Barkley joined Jalen Hurts‘ team last offseason in free agency. He responded with 2,504 total rushing yards (regular and post season) and 18 touchdowns, while the Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. “Most people, they watched the Eagles win the Super Bowl a couple of months ago, they watched Saquon run through everyone in the playoffs, and they thought to themselves, This is amazing,” Jeanty penned. “I watched it and I thought something different. I thought, That can be me.” Barkley’s monster season reminded NFL teams of the combo power of a strong runner and franchise QB. “That’s great news for guys like Ashton Jeanty, who could come off the board as early as six now that the Raiders have Geno Smith,” Miller said. “We saw last year the Raiders — and I know it was a different regime — but they went best player available with Brock Bowers and he had a great rookie season, a record setting rookie season. Well, I think we could see something similar with Ashton Jeanty if he’s on the board. “The (Chicago) Bears felt like a lock for him at No. 10 overall, until Geno Smith went to the Raiders. That’s what makes covering the NFL so fun, because one move happens and it alters the trajectory of so many different things.” While the Raiders could be ideal for Jeanty at No. 6 or the Bears could eagerly await his fall to No. 10, Miller believes one of the most famous teams in pro sports is already out on a Boise State running back who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting last year. “I think (Dallas) Cowboys fans for a long time were conflicted because they have the No. 12 pick and they thought, ‘Well, if he makes it, do we want to spend the first round pick on a running back?’ Miller said. GettyJeanty is ready to shake up the NFL[/caption] “I don’t think they’re going to have to worry about it. I think he’s going to be gone by then.” Miller believes that North Carolina’s Hampton is also a likely first-round pick, while two Ohio State backs could be off the board before the second round arrives. “They had two (running backs), which was why they won a national championship,” Miller said. “Quinshon Judkins, who was more of a power back, and TreVeyon Henderson, who is a great receiver out of the backfield, a great blocker in the passing game.” Barkley is clear proof that adding a premier running back can make a huge one-year difference in the NFL. But Detroit also went 15-2 with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs aiding Jared Goff in the Lions’ backfield. Jeanty would be a top-10 pick in any draft. With running backs ‘back’ in 2025, the Boise State star is set to lead a new wave of young names. “Having that lightning and thunder — or Knuckles and Sonic as they prefer to be called — having that duo makes your offense just so
The only question for Ashton Jeanty is how high he will go.
Thanks to Saquon Barkley‘s Super Bowl dominance, running backs are fashionable again and the 2025 NFL Draft could feature several names selected in the first round.
“Running back is back,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller exclusively told talkSPORT. “It’s importantly back for teams that have the quarterback position settled.
“Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs — they go to teams with starting quarterbacks who are good starting quarterbacks, and they were able to supplement those offenses really, really well. Saquon, famously, with nearly a record setting season.”
Jeanty has already made it clear that he was inspired by Barkley’s 2024 Super Bowl run with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The former Boise State star went viral this week by comparing himself to a ‘Quadzilla’ who almost broke the NFL’s single-season rushing record.
“If you pick me, it’s simple: I’m coming to your franchise to do what Saquon and the Eagles just did,” Jeanty wrote in the Players Tribune.
“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.”
TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State), Cam Skattebo (Arizona State), Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State), Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) and Jeanty (Boise State) top the list of prospects who could soon be starting in pro backfields.
Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders and Abdul Carter are the biggest names in a draft that still features some uncertainty among the elite picks.
But Miller believes one big question has already been answered.
NFL teams believe in running backs again, and a copycat league will look to replicate the Eagles’ Super Bowl success.
Barkley joined Jalen Hurts‘ team last offseason in free agency.
He responded with 2,504 total rushing yards (regular and post season) and 18 touchdowns, while the Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX.
“Most people, they watched the Eagles win the Super Bowl a couple of months ago, they watched Saquon run through everyone in the playoffs, and they thought to themselves, This is amazing,” Jeanty penned.
“I watched it and I thought something different. I thought, That can be me.”
Barkley’s monster season reminded NFL teams of the combo power of a strong runner and franchise QB.
“That’s great news for guys like Ashton Jeanty, who could come off the board as early as six now that the Raiders have Geno Smith,” Miller said.
“We saw last year the Raiders — and I know it was a different regime — but they went best player available with Brock Bowers and he had a great rookie season, a record setting rookie season. Well, I think we could see something similar with Ashton Jeanty if he’s on the board.
“The (Chicago) Bears felt like a lock for him at No. 10 overall, until Geno Smith went to the Raiders. That’s what makes covering the NFL so fun, because one move happens and it alters the trajectory of so many different things.”
While the Raiders could be ideal for Jeanty at No. 6 or the Bears could eagerly await his fall to No. 10, Miller believes one of the most famous teams in pro sports is already out on a Boise State running back who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting last year.
“I think (Dallas) Cowboys fans for a long time were conflicted because they have the No. 12 pick and they thought, ‘Well, if he makes it, do we want to spend the first round pick on a running back?’ Miller said.
“I don’t think they’re going to have to worry about it. I think he’s going to be gone by then.”
Miller believes that North Carolina’s Hampton is also a likely first-round pick, while two Ohio State backs could be off the board before the second round arrives.
“They had two (running backs), which was why they won a national championship,” Miller said.
“Quinshon Judkins, who was more of a power back, and TreVeyon Henderson, who is a great receiver out of the backfield, a great blocker in the passing game.”
Barkley is clear proof that adding a premier running back can make a huge one-year difference in the NFL.
But Detroit also went 15-2 with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs aiding Jared Goff in the Lions’ backfield.
Jeanty would be a top-10 pick in any draft.
With running backs ‘back’ in 2025, the Boise State star is set to lead a new wave of young names.
“Having that lightning and thunder — or Knuckles and Sonic as they prefer to be called — having that duo makes your offense just so potent and powerful, especially in a time where teams are putting five and six defensive backs on the field 70 percent of the time,” Miller said.
“It has been fun to watch the cycle start to spin of, ‘Well, if you’re linebackers are going to weigh 215 pounds, I’m going to put my 225 pound running back and we’re just going to run over you.’
“Derrick Henry has been doing it for 10 years and no one else had really caught on. But it does feel like teams are starting to try to combat the smaller, faster defenses with more of a power game.”
The 2025 NFL Draft will be held from April 24-26 at Lambeau Field, which is the home of the Green Bay Packers.
Round one is scheduled for 8 pm Eastern Time.
