Ashton Jeanty, the supercharged running back from the Las Vegas Raiders, is turning heads during the NFL’s early-season contender. He’s looking forward to what should be a thrilling next season! At only 14 years of age, Jeanty was making his coaches rethink what they thought about talent, about potential. From a small town outside of Naples, Italy, he began his international journey. Today, he takes the stage on the biggest professional football platform, continuing to display the character and ability that has made him successful.
Jeanty spent his early life in Italy. His father, Harry Jeanty, was, as he recalls with pride, one of the commanding officers of the naval support base in Aversa. Having immigrated to the United States from the Philippines at the age of 12, he surprised many by quickly acclimating to American football culture. In his inaugural season with Lone Star High School, also located in Frisco, Mbanasor played both safety and defensive end. His athletic versatility even before college showed the world just how special an athlete he was.
By his senior season, Jeanty had become the Rangers’ top running back, helping lead his team to an impressive 10-2 record. He rushed for 383 yards and a touchdown on 44 attempts, and was named all-state as a wide receiver. He showed smarts and grit, quickly winning over coaches and fans alike. His college coach, Jim Davis, declared, “He was a man among boys.”
Jeanty’s strength really showed in his last two seasons of high school football. He was extremely difficult to bring down, making defenders reconsider their approach. “That took a lot of power for a kid who was maybe 5-foot-6 [and] 12 or 13 [years old], to explode like that,” remarked Jim Davis.
Christian Albright, a former Naples teammate, said he couldn’t believe Jeanty was making it to the NFL. “I’m still unable to get my head around that,” he said. Jeanty’s talent was undeniable. He had to go at least 200 yards in six games, but that was fine, as it propelled the Broncos to a stunning 12-2 record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.
After high school, Jeanty kept up her momentum with outstanding performances at Boise State University. He became a Heisman Trophy finalist, garnering national attention for his explosive style of play. That just wasn’t the case with his freshman year in 2022 as he finished with just 53 rushing yards against Air Force. Though that was a tough loss, Jeanty’s impact on the team was undeniable.
As one of the coaches who tried to scheme against Jeanty, Brian Knorr, said, “Having Jeanty on the field was a game-changer.” In the largest game of our season, he received a screen pass. Then, he juked six defenders on his way to the most brilliant 75-yard touchdown run you ever saw. This capacity to deliver in the clutch really distinguished Jeanty from his contemporaries.
Jeanty’s success did not come without challenges. His ascendance meant that fellow teammates needed to change their roles and expectations. Tom Allen, who coached against him, acknowledged this by saying, “We have a lot of guys who want to play in the NFL. I said, ‘Well, here you go. You are going against an NFL running back.’”
Jeanty is making his move into the NFL with the Raiders. He’ll have the thankless Richard task of trying to get a respectable performance out of the team that finished with the league’s worst rushing attack in 2023. “If he could come in and do what I think and hope he can do, I feel like it’s going to be a fun year for us,” said Jakobi Meyers, a teammate who recognizes Jeanty’s potential impact.
Jeanty’s journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been one defined by grit and perseverance. Now as he gets ready to take to the professional stage, those lessons learned over the past four years of intense competition will serve him well. His reputation as a very gifted athlete precedes him. Though some fans are doubtful he’ll be the answer to their problem, most are eager to see how he translates to the NFL’s demands.
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