Chicago Bears prospect profile for the 2025 NFL Draft: Ashton Jeanty, a running back from Boise State

Ashton Jeanty is a name that has gained considerable attention among NFL scouts and analysts ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. A dynamic, all-around running back, Jeanty has been the focal point of Boise State’s offense and is poised to make an immediate impact at the next level. With a combination of speed, agility, vision, and power, Jeanty has the traits that scouts look for in a top-tier running back prospect. This profile will examine Jeanty’s journey to the NFL, his skills on the field, and what makes him one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 draft class, particularly for a team like the Chicago Bears.

The Bears, who are in a rebuilding phase and looking to surround their young quarterback with playmakers, could very well target Jeanty early in the 2025 draft. With his combination of elite rushing ability and receiving prowess, Jeanty could fit seamlessly into their evolving offensive scheme.

Early Life and College Journey

Born in Frisco, Texas, Ashton Jeanty was a standout high school football player. His high school career, which saw him rack up impressive rushing yards and touchdowns, put him on the radar of several college programs. His combination of speed and power made him a tough player to stop, and he drew comparisons to some of the best running back prospects of recent years. Jeanty ultimately chose to attend Boise State, a program known for its success and ability to develop talented skill players.

Upon arriving at Boise State, Jeanty quickly adjusted to the college game, becoming a key contributor to the Broncos’ offense. His freshman season was a learning year, but he showed flashes of his potential. By his sophomore year, Jeanty had firmly established himself as one of the top running backs in the Mountain West Conference and across the country.

College Career and Development

Sophomore Season (2022)

In his sophomore year, Jeanty emerged as one of the most dynamic running backs in college football. His 2022 season was marked by 821 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on just 159 carries, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Jeanty also showcased his receiving ability, catching 14 passes for 155 yards and zero touchdowns. While these numbers weren’t eye-popping, they gave scouts a glimpse of the potential that would fully unfold in the following seasons.

Jeanty’s sophomore campaign was crucial in his development, as he began to refine his game and demonstrate his versatility. As the season progressed, he became more involved in the passing game, showing a natural ability to run routes and make defenders miss in space. His agility and acceleration stood out, and he was able to break off some explosive plays, both in the running game and as a receiving threat.

Junior Season (2023)

Jeanty took a significant step forward in 2023. With increased responsibility in Boise State’s offense, he rushed for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns. His yards-per-carry average jumped to 6.0, showcasing his ability to make the most out of each touch. Additionally, Jeanty had a breakout season as a receiver, hauling in 43 passes for 569 yards and five touchdowns. His versatility as both a runner and a receiver set him apart from many of the other running back prospects in the 2025 draft class.

What stood out most in 2023 was Jeanty’s ability to make plays in all phases of the game. Whether it was running between the tackles, bouncing to the outside, or catching passes out of the backfield, he showed that he could be used in a variety of ways. His improved pass protection also allowed him to stay on the field for all three downs, further boosting his draft stock.

Senior Season (2024)

By 2024, Jeanty had fully matured into one of the best running backs in the nation. He posted one of the most impressive seasons of any college running back, rushing for 2,288 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. While his receiving numbers took a slight dip, he still caught 18 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown. Jeanty’s 2024 season was nothing short of extraordinary, and he firmly established himself as a top-10 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Jeanty’s 2024 season demonstrated his ability to dominate at the college level. He carried the Boise State offense on his back, leading the team to a successful season and showing that he could perform at the highest level. His speed, vision, and balance allowed him to exploit opposing defenses consistently, and his 28 touchdowns made him one of the most prolific scorers in college football.

Strengths

Ashton Jeanty’s skill set makes him one of the most complete running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft. His ability to contribute both in the running and passing games gives him the potential to become an all-purpose back at the next level. Let’s take a deeper look at his strengths.

1. Elite Running Vision and Patience

One of Jeanty’s most impressive traits is his vision. He has an innate ability to read defenses and locate running lanes. Whether it’s hitting a hole quickly or cutting back against the grain, Jeanty shows excellent field awareness. His patience in waiting for blocks to develop is a key component of his running style. He is comfortable following his blockers and knows when to be patient, allowing the play to unfold before making his move.

Jeanty’s vision allows him to make defenders miss in tight spaces, and his ability to make quick decisions makes him extremely effective in both zone and power running schemes. His patience and vision also allow him to maximize his yards after contact, making him a tough player to bring down.

2. Explosive Speed and Acceleration

Jeanty has excellent straight-line speed and can hit top speed in a hurry. His ability to burst through the hole and into the open field is one of his standout qualities. Once Jeanty is in the open, it’s difficult for defenders to catch him. He has the speed to break away from defenders on long runs, and his 2024 season featured multiple explosive plays that showcased this ability.

Jeanty’s quick acceleration also helps him make defenders miss in tight spaces. He has the burst to get through the line of scrimmage quickly and explode to the next level. His ability to accelerate and change direction seamlessly makes him a nightmare for defenders to tackle.

3. Physicality and Contact Balance

Despite standing at just 5’9″, Jeanty plays with the physicality of a much larger running back. His low center of gravity and compact frame give him great balance and the ability to shed tacklers. Jeanty excels in breaking through arm tackles and fighting for extra yards after contact. He is difficult to bring down with just one tackler, and defenders often need to gang-tackle him to stop him from gaining yards.

Jeanty’s ability to power through tackles, combined with his speed and agility, makes him a well-rounded back capable of handling a heavy workload in the NFL. His contact balance allows him to push the pile and gain extra yards, a crucial skill for any NFL running back.

4. Receiving Threat Out of the Backfield

While Jeanty is known for his rushing ability, he is also a capable receiving threat. He proved in 2023 that he can be a dynamic pass-catcher out of the backfield, recording 43 receptions for 569 yards and five touchdowns. His route running is precise, and he has reliable hands to catch passes in the short and intermediate passing game.

Jeanty’s ability to contribute as a receiver is a major asset, as it gives him the potential to be a three-down back in the NFL. His versatility allows him to be used in various offensive schemes, and he can be utilized as a weapon in the screen game or as a checkdown option for his quarterback.

Areas for Improvement

While Jeanty’s skill set is highly impressive, there are areas where he can improve before making the leap to the NFL.

1. Pass Protection

One area where Jeanty still needs to develop is in pass protection. While he has shown improvement over his college career, there are still times when he struggles to pick up blitzes or handle more physical defenders. At the NFL level, pass protection is critical, and Jeanty will need to refine his blocking technique and awareness to ensure that he can stay on the field during passing downs.

2. Durability Concerns

Jeanty has taken on a heavy workload during his college career, and while he has been durable for the most part, there are concerns about his long-term durability. He has a history of minor injuries, including a lower-body injury in 2023, which kept him out of a few games. With the physicality of the NFL, it will be important for Jeanty to stay healthy and maintain his explosiveness over the course of a 17-game season.

NFL Comparison: Saquon Barkley

Many scouts and analysts have compared Jeanty to Saquon Barkley, the star running back for the New York Giants. Both players possess similar traits, including their combination of speed, power, agility, and vision. Like Barkley, Jeanty has the ability to break off long runs and make defenders miss in the open field. He also has the ability to contribute as a receiver, making him a versatile weapon in any offense.

While Jeanty may not have the same size as Barkley, his balance and physicality make him a difficult player to tackle. If he can continue to develop his pass protection and stay healthy, he has the potential to become a star in the NFL.

Fit with the Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are a team in need of a playmaker at the running back position. With the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bears could target Jeanty to help transform their offense. With Justin Fields at quarterback, the Bears need a dynamic weapon in the backfield to take some pressure off their young signal-caller. Jeanty’s combination of running and receiving skills would give Fields an additional weapon to utilize in both the run and pass game.

Jeanty fits well into the Bears’ offensive scheme, which emphasizes the run game. He has the power to run between the tackles and the speed to break off big plays outside. Additionally, his ability to catch passes out of the backfield would give the Bears another weapon in their passing game, making their offense much more unpredictable.

Projected NFL Draft Position

Ashton Jeanty is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, with many analysts projecting him to go within the top 10 picks. His combination of size, speed, and versatility makes him one of the top running back prospects in recent years, and his ability to contribute both as a rusher and a receiver only boosts his draft stock.

Ashton Jeanty is one of the most exciting and complete running back prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. With a blend of power, speed, vision, and receiving skills, Jeanty has the potential to be a three-down back at the next level. For the Chicago Bears, selecting Jeanty could be a game-changing move that helps propel their offense to new heights. Whether it’s as a dynamic runner or a weapon in the passing game, Jeanty’s skill set makes him one of the most intriguing prospects for the Bears and other NFL teams in need of a talented running back.