SEATTLE, Wash. — Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty steps onto the NFL stage Thursday night, aiming to spark the team’s sputtering ground game in a preseason clash against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Raiders selected Jeanty sixth overall in the 2025 draft, the highest a running back landed since 2018. The 21-year-old arrives from Boise State, where he shattered records and emerged as a Heisman Trophy runner-up. He racked up 2,601 rushing yards last season, falling just short of Barry Sanders’ NCAA mark, and led the nation with 2,750 all-purpose yards. His explosive bursts and tackle-breaking power turned heads, earning him the Doak Walker Award as the top college running back.
Raiders coaches expect Jeanty to inject life into an offense that ranked dead last in rushing last year, averaging a meager 79.8 yards per game. New head coach Pete Carroll, returning to Seattle where he once led the Seahawks to glory, plans a run-heavy attack. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, back in the NFL after college stints, designs plays to highlight Jeanty’s versatility. The rookie has impressed in training camp, splitting out wide, catching passes and powering through drills with balance and vision.
Thursday’s game at Lumen Field kicks off at 10 p.m. Eastern on NFL Network. Carroll confirmed starters will see action, giving Jeanty his first live reps alongside quarterback Geno Smith. The veteran signal-caller, acquired to steady the position, has praised the revamped offense’s potential. Jeanty shares the backfield with veterans like Zamir White and Raheem Mostert, but he tops the unofficial depth chart as the lead option.
Jeanty’s journey to this moment spans continents. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, he grew up in a military family, playing youth football in Virginia before moving to Italy. There, at a high school for military dependents near Naples, he dominated as a freshman, flattening linebackers and leading his team across Europe. Back in the U.S., he starred at Lone Star High in Frisco, Texas, showcasing skills at multiple positions before committing to Boise State.
In college, Jeanty evolved from a backup to a star. As a freshman, he contributed in a shared role, then exploded as a sophomore with over 1,300 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards. His final year cemented his status, averaging 185.8 rushing yards per game and forcing 151 missed tackles—both national bests.
Raiders fans hope Jeanty replicates his college magic. The team revamped its roster, adding pieces like guard Alex Cappa, rookie wideouts Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech, and safeties Jamal Adams and Jeremy Chinn to support a playoff push. Seattle, meanwhile, fields a familiar foe for Carroll, who coached the Seahawks from 2010 to 2023, winning a Super Bowl.
Jeanty embraces the spotlight. He skipped the NFL Combine drills, opting for Boise State’s pro day, and enters the league with a chip on his shoulder. His upright running style and low center of gravity make him tough to bring down. If he delivers flashes of brilliance Thursday, he could solidify his role as the Raiders’ workhorse.
The preseason opener offers no points in the standings, but for Jeanty, it marks the start of a promising career. Las Vegas seeks to build momentum, while Seattle tests its depth. All eyes focus on the rookie ready to run wild.
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