From Boise’s blue turf to the Raiders’ silver and black, Ashton Jeanty ran the whole nine yards. Whether it’s carrying Boise State’s playoff hopes on his shoulders or handling the Heisman snub with grace, this guy always stood tall. Now, it all pays off as Las Vegas drafts him sixth overall, the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley. This isn’t just a record; Jeanty might be the spark the 4-13 Raiders need. And a 58-year-old Raiders legend agrees—this pick isn’t just history; it’s a glimpse of the future.

But who’s this 58-year-old legend calling dibs on Ashton Jeanty? It’s none other than former Raiders guard Steve Wisniewski. A standout guard of the 1990s who made the Pro Bowl 8 times in his career. If he is showing his confidence in Aston Jeanty, sure, he did something extraordinary:

“I’m absolutely thrilled that the Raiders selected Ashton Jeanty. He is a beast of a running back. And if I could give them some advice, I would just tell them, Welcome to the family. Outwork everybody.” Steve said. “Let your play on the field do all the talking for you, and realize you’re part of a rich heritage. Many, many Hall of Fame players have come before you. Carry yourself with distinction, and you’re going to make us proud.”

Well, can we blame him, though? Ashton Jeanty is sure a beast. This guy led the FBS in rushing yards and touchdowns last season. In his game against Georgia Southern, Jeanty rushed for 267 yards, breaking a 46-year-old single-game record of Boise State, and 6 TDs, which tied the Paulson Stadium record and Mountain West record. Not just that, he rushed for 2,601 yards with 374 carries and 29 TDs. So, if that performance won’t change the Raiders’ fate, then what will?

Also, Ashton Jeanty’s move to the Raiders was a done deal. But how? Last month, their GM, John Spytek, made a sarcastic revelation on SiriusXM Radio that his oldest son, Jack, would leave the family if the team missed out on Jeanty. Even at the end of the first round, Spytek made his stance clear and said, “I’m happy that I still have both of my sons in my house and expect them to move to Vegas this summer.” But that isn’t the only factor.

Spytek made his stance clear that by drafting Ashton Jeanty, he is bringing a strong force to his team, especially on offense with tight end Brock Bowers, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, and new QB Geno Smith. In 2024, Bowers and Meyers each topped 1,000 receiving yards, constantly testing defenses.

Geno Smith, coming off a record-breaking season with Seattle, capped his Seahawks career in Pro Bowl style. The Raiders immediately traded for him, signing him to a two-year extension. “We’ve gotten harder to defend,” Spytek said, highlighting their improved offense featuring proven stars and a record-setting quarterback. But that’s not the only chance he is going to bring.

Ashton Jeanty: All the way from Boise State to the Raiders

Boise State running backs coach James Montgomery vividly recalls the moment Ashton Jeanty, then a freshman, truly impressed him. It was October 2022 at Albertsons Stadium. Montgomery, then coaching at Fresno State, watched Jeanty dominate. In his blue #2 jersey, Jeanty powered through six defenders, bouncing off tackles like a pinball, and even found the energy to celebrate for the crowd. He finished with 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns, leading Boise State to a 40-20 victory over Fresno State. Montgomery never forgot that performance. Months later, fate intervened.

Montgomery joined Boise State’s coaching staff as running backs coach, finding himself mentoring the very player who’d previously dominated his former team. From the start, Montgomery focused on sharpening Jeanty’s mental game, already recognizing his exceptional physical talent. “I just wanted to make him the best football player he could be,” Montgomery said. “I already knew he had the talent and the ability, the God-given gift. So I just wanted to make sure, from the neck up, I made him as good as he could be.”

That strategy worked. Thursday night, Montgomery saw his former freshman student make history. With the sixth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders made Ashton Jeanty the first running back off the board and the highest-ever draft pick from Boise State University. “Just like everybody in the room, when I saw the Raiders coming up at six, I knew there was a high possibility,” Montgomery recalled.“But I’m still shaken a little bit.”

Jeanty’s success joined him with Boise State’s elite running backs, including NFL veterans Doug Martin, Jay Ajayi, and Alexander Mattison. His impact, though, extends beyond statistics and team awards. His draft selection resonated deeply within the Broncos’ locker room, particularly inspiring young running backs like redshirt freshman Sire Gaines and junior Jambres Dubar. For Gaines, a devoted Raiders fan, Jeanty’s selection held even greater significance.

Sire Gaines views Jeanty’s high draft position as a testament to the entire running back group. NFL teams have rarely used first-round picks on running backs recently. However, Jeanty became the highest-drafted RB since Saquon Barkley in 2018, a pick that proved successful when Barkley led the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory with a 2,000-yard season in 2024. Derrick Henry‘s continued success with Baltimore reinforces the value of powerful running backs in today’s pass-oriented NFL. “Ashton Jeanty going sixth in the NFL Draft, that’s even more amazing as a running back,” Gaines said. “Now, look at us. Now he’s gonna set all the running backs up for success, it’s culture changing.”

Ashton Jeanty is part of the Raiders, and no wonder that’s going to be the case. For now, let’s see how his pro season treats the RB on the pro field.