One name is all the rage in College Football right now: that name is Ashton Jeanty.
And there is an excellent reason for that. The Boise State running back leads the nation in rushing yards with 1,248 yards and ranks second in the country in rushing touchdowns with 17 thus far. It's worth noting that Boise State is playing non-power-5 football, but the Broncos are ranked 17th in the country currently and pushed the currently #1 ranked Oregon Ducks to their limit in a 34-37 loss earlier this year. In that game against the now #1 ranked Ducks, Jeanty rushed for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns, with an average of 7.7 yards per carry. Jeanty is on pace for a Barry Sanders-esque season and has a real shot at not only winning the Heisman trophy but also breaking the College Football single-season rushing record.
As Cowboy fans, over the last couple of years we've had to sit back and watch these talented players get picked by other teams early on. But for the first time since the Cowboys took Micah Parsons with the 12th pick in 2021, it appears America's team is destined for a high draft pick. A 47-9 embarrassment against the Lions last Sunday is all the proof one needs to say that the 2024-25 Dallas Cowboys aren't a very good football team. As much as it hurts to sit through a losing season and watch this team struggle, a bad season will come with a high draft pick next year. And if he ends up falling to their pick, Ashton Jeanty needs to be a Dallas Cowboy.
If there was ever a situation where the Cowboys desperately needed a running back, it is the one they are in now. It's safe to say the Rico Dowdle-Ezekiel Elliott pairing is not working very well, as the Cowboys rank dead last in the NFL with only 77.2 rushing yards per game. The consequences of letting Tony Pollard walk in free agency and failing to find a replacement for him in both free agency and the draft are showing themselves in this downward spiral the Cowboys are on right now, as Dallas is the clear-cut frontrunner for worst backfield in the NFL right now. This has created a one-dimensional offense in Dallas, where defenses can shut them down by taking care of Ceedee Lamb and keeping him out of the game. Long story short, the Cowboys desperately need a running back this offseason to bring some life back to their offense.
Additionally, Jeanty is not your typical speedy college running back who is destined to fail at the next level. One part of his game that sticks out is his ability to run after contact. Standing 5'9 and weighing 215 lbs, Jeanty possesses a low center of gravity and enough size to power through defenders. But Jeanty is not a one-dimensional back that can only run between the tackles: Jeanty has more than enough speed to break away for massive yardage as well as the ability to be deployed as a receiver. In 2023, Jeanty caught 43 passes for 569 yards and 5 touchdowns. Jeanty's closest NFL comparison is Christian McCaffrey—high praise for a guy who hasn't played a down in the NFL yet.
ESPN's Jordan Reid's latest mock draft projects the Cowboys drafting Jeanty with the 15th overall pick this year. Who knows if he will be available at that spot or where the Cowboys will be selecting, but one thing is for sure: if he is available, the Boise State running back is a can't-miss prospect who fits perfectly into the Cowboys' offense.
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