Ashton Jeanty called his shot with a bold comment he made ahead of next week’s NFL Draft.
Jeanty shared the story of his football journey that appeared in The Players Tribune for an article published on Wednesday. Jeanty has lived in different places all over due to his father’s job in the military, including Naples, Italy. The former Boise State running back didn’t even start at running back in high school until his senior year. Though he got on the radar for coaches late, Jeanty made his mark in college.
Jeanty rushed for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore, and 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. He was an All-American and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting last season.
Now Jeanty is telling NFL teams to draft him because he believes he will be able to deliver for them like Saquon Barkley did for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“If you pick me, it’s simple: I’m coming to your franchise to do what Saquon and the Eagles just did. I’m coming to win, big, soon,” Jeanty wrote in his article.
“It’s TACKLE football … you know what I’m saying?
“I’d draft the guy they can’t tackle.”
That’s a pretty bold comment from Jeanty.
Barkley led the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns last season. He added 278 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns, while helping the Eagles win the Super Bowl. Barkley had the 8th-most rushing yards in a season ever and just one of nine 2,000-yard seasons ever.
It’s one thing for Jeanty to say he will be an impact player. But to declare he’s going to put up a top-10 season in NFL history and lead his team to the Super Bowl is as bold of a prediction as they get. One thing is for sure – he looks the part.
