Ashton Jeanty, the Boise State running back, has garnered significant attention for his explosive playmaking ability, and some are starting to draw comparisons to Barry Sanders. However, while Jeanty has shown flashes of brilliance, becoming the next Barry Sanders—a legendary, once-in-a-lifetime talent—sets an extremely high bar. Here’s an evaluation:
Why Jeanty Draws Comparisons to Sanders
- Explosiveness and Elusiveness
- Jeanty’s ability to make defenders miss in tight spaces and his breakaway speed in the open field evoke shades of Barry Sanders.
- His lateral quickness, vision, and knack for finding creases in defenses demonstrate a rare skill set.
- Compact Build
- Like Sanders, Jeanty is not the tallest back (5’9″ and 205 lbs), but he uses his low center of gravity to his advantage, bouncing off tackles and maintaining balance through contact.
- Big-Play Potential
- Jeanty has the ability to turn routine plays into home runs, much like Sanders did during his career. His versatility as a rusher and receiver adds to his dynamic profile.
Key Differences
- Competition Level
- Barry Sanders made his mark against top-tier opponents during his Heisman-winning season at Oklahoma State and continued to dominate in the NFL. Jeanty is performing well at Boise State, but the level of competition in the Mountain West Conference is less consistent than that of Power 5 conferences.
- Translating his success to the NFL will be crucial before any Sanders comparisons can hold weight.
- Style of Play
- Sanders was a generational talent with a unique running style—his spins, jukes, and ability to stop and accelerate at will were unmatched.
- Jeanty is elusive, but his style is more conventional compared to Sanders’ unparalleled creativity and unpredictability.
- Career Trajectory
- Sanders had a historically dominant college season, rushing for 2,628 yards in 1988—still the NCAA single-season record. Jeanty, while impressive, has not reached this level of dominance.
What Jeanty Needs to Prove
- NFL Transition
- Can Jeanty’s skill set translate against the speed and physicality of NFL defenses? Sanders thrived at the highest level, becoming a Hall of Famer and one of the most electrifying players in history.
- Consistency
- Barry Sanders was not only flashy but consistently productive. Jeanty will need to showcase durability and the ability to deliver game after game at higher levels of competition.
- Dominance Against Top Defenses
- To be considered in the same breath as Sanders, Jeanty will need to prove he can dominate elite defenses, both in college and eventually in the NFL.
Verdict
Ashton Jeanty has the talent and potential to be an exceptional running back, but becoming the next Barry Sanders is a monumental challenge. Sanders’ unique combination of skills, dominance, and legacy makes him one of the greatest to ever play the game. Jeanty can carve out his own path and become a star, but the “next Barry Sanders” label may be premature and, perhaps, unfair.
Instead of comparing Jeanty to Sanders, it’s better to appreciate Jeanty for what he is: a promising young player with the potential to be special in his own right. If he continues to improve and thrive, he
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