I don't see it with Jeanty the way most clamor about him, i do think he's very good, but...I don't think he's the top back in draft, and I think he's going to have a shock with the speed of defensive talent in the NFL.
Personally I have Hampton, Harvey, Kaleb Johnson, and possibly Henderson/Giddens above him for more successful pro careers.
Yes I've read scouting reports claiming Jeanty as best prospect in years but so we're guys like Chris Perry, Ron Dayne, Rashaan Salaam, Tim Biakabutuka, Sammie Smith, and Curtis Enis to name a few.
He dominated weak opponents. He dominated teams that recruit 1, 2 and at best a few 3 star recruits, for a Boise State team that gets 3, 4 and even a few 5 star recruits and transfers.
He had a phenomenal 25-192-3TD game against Oregon (35th).
*in parenthesis is 2024 team run defense rankings.
The conference teams Jeanty ran all over are not good run defense teams loaded with SEC nor BIG10 talent.
He played Georgia Southern (89th), Portland State (98th), Utah State (127th), Hawaii (46th), San Jose State (61st run stop rate all i could find), UNLV (23rd), Washington (61st), Nevada (113th), Wyoming (111th), Oregon State (107th). Best in season run defense team he faced was UNLV but UNLV's scheduled offensive opponents were not exceptional by any means, proved by his 34-209-3TD game.
Verse Penn State (8th) he was NOT spectacular nor was he anything like Barry Sanders...it took 30 carries for 104 yards which is barely over 3 ypc. And the team was beat down by 17 in a bowl game.
I've heard he's a great guy from a patriotic family which is great. But imho, he's sorely overrated and over hyped, beating on teams that can't compete verse top teams.
Yes, Boise State competed verse both PSU and Oregon, but they also have superior talent across the board that teams in the Mountain West conference simply do not possess.
Personally I hope he does well in the pro's and has a good career,and surpasses my suspicions of him.... but I just don't believe he will, nor will he ever be compared to Barry Sanders again.