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Ashton Jeanty projected to turn around Tom Brady's 4-13 franchise record
Ashton Jeanty projected to turn around Tom Brady's 4-13 franchise record

Time of India

time4 days ago

  • Sport
  • Time of India

Ashton Jeanty projected to turn around Tom Brady's 4-13 franchise record

(Image via Getty: Ashton Jeanty) There are four teams in the AFC West–the Denver Broncos, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Las Vegas Raiders. Three teams performed exceptionally well in the 2024 NFL season. But one team performed disastrously. That one team belongs to the 7-time Super Bowl Champion, Tom Brady. The NFL legend's part-owned franchise, the Las Vegas Raiders, secured only 4 wins and 13 terrible losses last year. This season, the Raiders wish to reverse that record at full throttle. All thanks to their star addition–Ashton Jeanty. The No. 6 overall pick from the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft promises a bright 2025 NFL season for them. How so? Let's find out. — nickwalt (@nickwalt) NFL Analysts praise Ashton Jeanty 's ability to rewrite the script for the Las Vegas Raiders Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN had projected Ashton Jeanty for the Las Vegas Raiders. The NFL Analyst said the 21-year-old running back could immediately flip the script for the Raiders. He added, Jeanty has the potential to become an elite three-down back in the NFL. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY also had predicted Jeanty for the Raiders. In the exact words of the NFL Editor—Jeanty has shown a rare penchant for creating yardage almost on his own, and an alignment between intention and talent can help the Raiders rejuvenate the league's worst rushing attack. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments Binghatti Developers FZE Get Offer Undo Ashton Jeanty stats in the Boise State Broncos Ashton Jeanty played college football for the Boise State Broncos from 2022 to 2024 before being drafted by Tom Brady's franchise. The running back accumulated 4,769 rushing yards, 50 receiving touchdowns, and a rushing average of 6.4 in a total of 40 games played. He also garnered 863 receiving yards, 80 receptions, 10 receiving touchdowns, and a receiving average of 10.8 in 26 games started. The 5-foot-8 and 211-pounder won several awards for his breathtaking achievements. Check out here- 2024 - Maxwell Award 2024 - Doak Walker Award 2024 - Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award 2024 - Unanimous All-American 2023 - First-Team All-American 2023, 2024 - MW Offensive Player of the Year 2023, 2024 - First-Team All-MW FAQs What does the Boise State Broncos coach say about RB Ashton Jeanty? Marca reported Spencer Danielson, coach for the Boise State Broncos, said, 'When Ashton was 17 years old, he stayed, put his head down. I think he is not only going to be one of the best football players in the NFL, I believe he is going to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year. He is going to have a huge push for that culture that head coach Pete Carroll is developing.' What are the contract details of Ashton Jeanty in Las Vegas Raiders? On May 9, 2025, Jeanty signed a four-year contract worth $35.895 million with the Raiders. It includes a signing bonus of $22.746 million. His entire contract is fully guaranteed. Who is Ashton Jeanty's current girlfriend? The Raiders RB is currently dating Gabrielle Miller. They have been together since high school. She is a Track & Field Athlete. Also Read: Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and Vikings WR Justin Jefferson are on the same wavelength | NFL News - Times of India Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

Kelly: Did the Dolphins upgrade or downgrade the 2025 roster?
Kelly: Did the Dolphins upgrade or downgrade the 2025 roster?

Miami Herald

time11-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Miami Herald

Kelly: Did the Dolphins upgrade or downgrade the 2025 roster?

The Miami Dolphins are intentionally fielding a younger, and subsequently a cheaper roster. But did South Florida's NFL team get better or worse from a talent standpoint this offseason? That question can only be analyzed after evaluating who left, and who their replacements are in each unit. Some units — like linebacker and safety — got better because of additions made in free agent signings, trades or the return of veterans who were sidelined by injuries. And then others — cornerback, tight end and defensive lineman — potentially got worse. Take a look at how we break down each unit, evaluating whether the Dolphins upgraded or downgraded the roster: ▪ Quarterback: Tyler 'Snoop' Huntley and Skylar Thompson Alexander Mattison and Ollie Gordon II The Dolphins intentionally moved on from Mostert, who was released and signed with Las Vegas, and Wilson (still unemployed) because the goal was to get younger in the backfield, which now belongs to De'Von Achane, who gained 907 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns on 203 carries, and Jaylen Wright, a second-year player who averaged 3.7 yards per carry last season. Mattison, who is entering his seventh season, and Gordon, a Doak Walker Award winner Miami drafted in the fifth round, should add some much-needed power to Miami's finesse rushing attack. But this unit is relatively green. However, durabilty and dead legs shouldn't be too much of a factor in 2025. ▪ Receiver: Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft and Grant Dubose Darren Waller and Pharaoh Brown Smith set every franchise record for the tight end position last year, but the Dolphins weren't willing to give him the type of extension he reportedly got from the Pittsburgh Steelers, receiving an additional $12 million, in the trade that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Smith to Pittsburgh in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a swap of 2027 late-round picks. The Dolphins quickly added Waller, a 2020 Pro Bowler who abruptly retired last year. While Waller turns 33 this season he has only had four seasons where he'd played 500-plus offensive snaps. His familiarity with offensive coordinator Frank Smith should allow Waller, a recovering addict who has faced multiple NFL suspensions, to adjust to the offense quickly. Brown will compete with Julian Hill for the in-line role, but he's speed deficient and has only caught 72 passes in his seven seasons in the NFL. If Waller struggles, or sustains an injury, expect Tanner Conner to step up as a front-line contributor. ▪ Offensive line: Terron Armstead, Robert Jones, Isaiah Wynn and Kendall Lamm Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers. Ben Stille, Matthew Butler Three of Miami's five top defensive linemen signed elsewhere, with Zach Sieler, a double-digit sack producer the past two years, and Benito Jones being the only veterans retained. Campbell, a captain last season, joined the Cardinals. Hand signed with the Chargers, and Ogbah joined the Jaguars. Miami replaced them with three draftees — Grant, Phillips and Biggers — and signed Stille and Butler to join Matt Dickerson as veterans battling for a spot on the back end of the roster. Grant, a nose tackle Miami selected in the first round, Phillips, a three-year starter at Maryland the Dolphins selected in the fifth round, and Biggers, a seventh-round pick, are all young, big and athletic, and each possesses upside. But the Dolphins will likely miss Campbell production and leaders, and Ogbah's veteran presence. The hope is that the trio of rookies are quick learners. ▪ Linebacker: Anthony Walker Jr., Tyus Bowser, Duke Riley > Willie Gay Jr., K.J Britt, Grayson Murphy Miami seemingly swapped Walker for Britt, exchanging 2024 starters with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Britt, who will likely serve as a backup to Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, isn't in the same league as Walker from an experience standpoint. But he's four years younger, slightly more athletic, and definitely more durable. Gay has started 55 of the 72 games he's played the past five seasons, and brings a versatility to the unit that Miami has been missing since Andrew Van Ginkel left a year ago as a free agent. Bowser and Riley haven't signed with an NFL team yet. Murphy, who impressed during training camp as a rookie before suffering a knee injury, will likely compete with Quinton Bell, Mohamed Kamara and Channing Tindall for one of the four or five backup linebacker spots behind Brooks, Dodson, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson. ▪ Cornerback: Jalen Ramsey, Kendall Fuller > Artie Burns, Kendall Sheffield, Jason Marshall Jr. No unit on the team took a steeper drop-off from a talent standpoint than Miami's cornerbacks because Ramsey and Fuller have collectively started 238 games. But Ramsey's difficult off-field demeanor led to his trade to Pittsburgh, and Fuller was released because of the knee injury he sustained late last season, which will likely keep him off the field in 2025. The Dolphins only added Burns and Sheffield, two journeymen who have experience as starters, to a young cornerback room that features Kader Kohou (an established nickel cornerback), Cam Smith, Miami's 2023 second-round pick, Storm Duck (three starts as a rookie in 2024), Ethan Bonner and Isaiah Johnson, former undrafted rookies who have flashed talent in camp, and Marshall, a former University of Florida standout the Dolphins selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Miami might add another veteran as training camp approaches, or wait until August after seeing how players perform in camp. ▪ Safety: Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer < Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ashtyn Davis, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Dante Trader Jr. Holland and Poyer were probably the least-productive starting safety tandem in Dolphins history considering they failed to record a single interception, and only produced one sack and forced one fumble in all of 2025. Poyer seems to be headed toward forced retirement because his play last season hints he has lost a step. Holland signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Giants this offseason and will be replaced by Fitzpatrick, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, whose leadership and football intelligence should help sew up the seams of Miami's secondary. Davis and Melifonwu, two veterans Miami signed this offseason, will compete with Elijah Campbell, Trader, a 2025 fifth-round pick, and Patrick McMorris, a 2024 sixth-round pick, for the other starting spot, and the two to three other spots on the 53-man roster for safeties.

Wisconsin legend included in ESPN's list of top running backs entering 2025 season
Wisconsin legend included in ESPN's list of top running backs entering 2025 season

USA Today

time08-07-2025

  • Sport
  • USA Today

Wisconsin legend included in ESPN's list of top running backs entering 2025 season

Former Wisconsin football legend Jonathan Taylor was included in ESPN's list of the top 10 running backs ahead of the 2025 season on Monday. In a survey of dozens of NFL league executives, coaches and scouts, the outlet ranked the upper echelon of candidates based on their vote totals, composite average position and what was shared during interviews. After the process, ESPN's hierarchy pegged Taylor as the No. 7 running back in the NFL entering this coming season. At No. 7, Taylor found himself between Green Bay Packers star Josh Jacobs (No. 6) and Buffalo Bills back James Cook (No. 8). Reining Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion Saquon Barkley earned the top spot, followed by Baltimore Ravens' workhorse Derrick Henry (No. 2), Detroit Lions' speedster Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 3), Atlanta Falcons' rising star Bijan Robinson (No. 4), 2023 Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey (No. 5), Houston Texan Joe Mixon (No. 9) and New Orleans Saint Alvin Kamara (No. 10). For context, ProFootballFocus' recent list of the top 32 running backs had Taylor at No. 14, sandwiched between Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty (No. 13) and New York Jets rising star Breece Hall (No. 15). Ahead of his sixth NFL campaign, appears as if Taylor holds a more favorable position in NFL front offices at this stage of his career. His most recent batch of numbers affirms that notion. The two-time Doak Walker Award winner at Wisconsin rushed for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns in 14 games during the 2024 slate, plus 18 receptions for 136 yards and a score through the air. The New Jersey native rushed for at least 100 yards in eight contests, which included a 218-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Tennessee Titans in a Week 16 win. While Taylor may be incapable of replicating his 1,811-yard output during the 2021 season, his three-down talent, coupled with deadly speed and strength in the open field, make him as dangerous as just about any player at his position in the NFL. With quarterback Anthony Richardson or veteran Daniel Jones under center, Taylor is poised to enjoy another productive season, barring any major injury setback. The Colts open the 2025 slate with a Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Former Tennessee running back's son commits to Vols
Former Tennessee running back's son commits to Vols

USA Today

time28-06-2025

  • Sport
  • USA Today

Former Tennessee running back's son commits to Vols

Tennessee baseball received a transfer commitment on Thursday. Rice freshman two-way player Blaine Brown announced his commitment to the Vols. He is the son of former Colorado and NFL running back Chris Brown. Chris Brown played for the Buffaloes and head coach Gary Barnett from 2001-02, and was inducted into the CU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021. In 2001, he was part of a Colorado team that upset Texas, 39-37, in the Big 12 championship game. Chris Brown totaled 182 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 33 attempts. Chris Brown returned for his junior season in 2002 and achieved All-America status. He was a runner-up for the Doak Walker Award, which is awarded to the nation's best running back. Following his junior season, Chris Brown entered the 2002 NFL draft and was selected in the third round (No. 93 overall) by Tennessee. He played five seasons with the Titans before concluding his professional career with Houston. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

Former Broncos RB Melvin Gordon Discusses NFL Return
Former Broncos RB Melvin Gordon Discusses NFL Return

Yahoo

time11-06-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Former Broncos RB Melvin Gordon Discusses NFL Return

Former Broncos RB Melvin Gordon Discusses NFL Return originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Just under one-and-a-half years have passed since former Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon last saw action in an NFL game. Advertisement Gordon, playing for the Baltimore Ravens at the time, appeared in four regular-season contests late in the 2023 season, totaling 81 yards on 26 carries and scoring one touchdown. But since then, Gordon has not received much interest from NFL teams, keeping him off the gridiron for the past 17 months. In an interview with NFL media personality Kay Adams on the "Up & Adams" show, Gordon expressed pessimism about a potential comeback materializing. "I went the whole year last year without playing and, just being out a whole year, it's not easy to just go back in there, you know what I mean? You've been doing something for 20 years, and then to take a year off, that's a long time. So, it's just kind of up in the air with everything," Gordon told Adams. "Right now, I'm just kind of comfortable golfing and kind of spending extra time with the family and friends." Houston Texans linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (57) pushes Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III (25) out of bounds in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile Chenoy-Imagn Images Gordon added that playing running back, a position not well-known for longevity, also puts him at a disadvantage when it comes to mounting a comeback. Advertisement "I understand my position. As a running back, being out a year and being 32, it's just not that easy," Gordon told Adams. "They like younger backs – they're cheaper, they come in – so, you can't really fight that. It's not a position like a receiver where you can come in and kind of steal some years. Our position kind of don't work like that." Gordon first rose to prominence in the collegiate ranks, where he had one of the best individual seasons in recent memory as a senior at Wisconsin. He ran the ball 343 times, scoring 29 touchdowns and gaining 2,587 yards, finishing 41 yards shy of Barry Sanders' all-time NCAA FBS single-season rushing record. Gordon, unsurprisingly, went on to win the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the top running back in college football. The Los Angeles Chargers (based in San Diego at the time) took Gordon with the No. 15 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, and he went on to a fruitful nine-year career in the league. He made two AFC Pro Bowl rosters and won a championship ring with the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LVII, even though he had never been added to the team's active roster. In his time with the Chargers, Broncos, and Ravens, Gordon logged 1,593 carries for 6,543 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns. Related: Broncos' Evan Engram Offers Six-Word Message on Bo Nix This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

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