RUNNING BACKS
Ashton Jeanty RB Boise St
Ashton is a complete RB. He can run the ball inside or outside, catch the ball, and block. He can power the ball into the end zone or finesse it into the end zone. Ashton is an excellent blocker and a strong blocker for his QB and takes pride in his blocking. He doesn’t give up on running the ball if he is struggling early in a game and in the fourth quarter, can be your 4-minute, run the clock out, running back. There will be those in this draft who will nitpick about Ashton and tell you the competition he went up against doesn’t warrant selecting him early. To those people I say, turn on the Oregon film and then tell me that. There will be those that will say, Ashton has been used up and there is not enough “tread left on the tires”. I would say to them, that it’s going to be a hell of a benefit to get him for the first four years of his career…wouldn’t you say? This is an RB who is mature and smart and knows how to pick up the blitz the day you put him on the field. That alone should tell you to select him early in this draft. The level of competition for a running back has nothing to do with his ability to be effective in the NFL. Starting RB’s and franchise RB’s come from all levels of competition.
Talent Grade: 1.43
Ollie Gordon II RB/H-Back Oklahoma St
Ollie could be the best RB in this very talented group of RB’s for this draft. He is 6’ 2” – 225 lbs, and extremely athletic. He has solid speed but what sets him ahead of other big running backs is his vision, lateral agility, and ability to break tackles at the line of scrimmage and the open field. Ollie can catch the ball down the field as well as any pass catching Tight End. He likes to chip block on his way out of the backfield and can put a 300-lb offensive lineman on the ground with just his shoulder. Ollie needs his shoulders to be square to the line of scrimmage to be effective but he is smart and can turn the corner because of his athleticism and good RB techniques. He doesn’t look as fast as Ravens Derrick Henry who is 6’ 3” 247 lbs, but his burst, lateral agility, and quickness are equal for sure, and you can bet DB’s will not be happy to see him break the line of scrimmage. Ollie struggled mentally to return fully from his 2023 injury until the last three games of the 2024 season. Taking his injury into consideration, he looks ready mentally and physically now, to become a franchise RB/H-back for the team that selects him.
Talent Grade: 1.83