The list of great running backs of all time that the honor of the NFL offensive Rookie of the Year won is impressive.
They would need three or four paragraphs to recite them all. We call five – Earl Campbell (1978), Barry Sanders (1989), Emmitt Smith (1990), Marshall Faulk (1994) and Adrian Peterson (2007).
Sorry to the Hall of Famers not mentioned, but the point is: If a return is a legend one day, he probably won the Rookie of the Year’s honor while he kept his career on a big start.
This is the situation with which Las Vegas Raider’s Ashton Jeanty runs back when he works on the NFL Stardom.
Jeanty was the second-placed by Heisman Trophy in Boise State after compiled one of the best running back season in college football history in 2024. His 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on the floor rank second place behind Sanders Epic in 1988 in the Oklahoma State.
The top competition from Janty will come from Tennessee Titans Quarterback Cam Ward and Jacksonville Jaguar’s Receiver Travis Hunter. The dark horses include Los Angeles Chargers, the Omarion Hampton and New Orleans Saints Quarterback Tyler Shough.
Although Running Backs traditionally went well in this race, the last rookie who won Saquon Barkley (then from the New York Giants) in 2018 was.
Since then, four quarterbacks and two recipients have deserved the honor. Quarterback Jayden Daniels from the Washington commander was the top rookie last season.
Jeanty, No. 6, has a solid chance to end the youngest drought.
He not only has outdoor speed – he had five touchdown runs of 70 or more meters last season – he also breaks Tackles effortlessly.
Jeanty will also play for a head coach in Pete Carroll, who favors a bell cow back, which means that he gets many wearing. The offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is also known for the fact that you strongly present the top backs.
Jeanty will give more passes in the professionals, in contrast to college, where it was often the best strategy to simply give him the ball and avoid it.
In order to exceed Ward, Jeanty will probably need at least 1,500 scrimmage yards – and may have to approach 2,000.
Barkley scored 2,028 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns in 2018, while he emphasized the then Cleveland Browns Quarterback Baker Mayfield. Barkley hurried for 1,307 yards and 11 points.
In 2017, Alvin Kamara from the New Orleans Saints won the award with 1,556 Scrimmage Yards and hit another running back in Kareem Hunt, then with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ward will be a strong competitor. Only an injury or completely overwhelmed injury will prevent him from being the starter of game 1 for Tennessee.
And if you have only seen a station interview, you know that he doesn’t lack self -confidence.
Ward went in Miami last season for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He added four rushing results and became fourth in the coordination of Heisman Trophy.
Ward is an important upgrade by Will Levis, the second round of the titans in 2023.
As for Hunter, the big question is how his snapshots are divided between the criminal offense and defense – or whether the training camp will find that he is better as the main player on one side of the ball and on the other hand a complementary piece. He is a top cornerback.
Last season in Colorado, the Heisman winner provided an outstanding campaign with 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The youngest recipients who win the price include the Ja’marr Chase (2021) by Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson (2022).
Hampton could appear if the backfield of the chargers remains unsettled. The experienced Free Agent Najee Harris was added in the low season, and Hampton will probably share the wearing. In 2024 he hurried for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns in North Carolina.
Shough could also begin, especially if Derek Carr subjected a shoulder surgery. Even if Carr is healthy, the new head coach Kellen Moore may want to continue and go with the second round of the team. Shough played for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions in Louisville last season.
