Ashton Jeanty Q&A on playing football in Europe, ‘rocked up’ description by Raiders teammate, and more

Ashton Jeanty talks Raiders, Chip Kelly, and playing football overseas

Of all the rookies that fans are looking forward to seeing in 2025, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is one of the most highly anticipated. The Boise State product put together one of the best seasons for a running back in college football history, rushing for over 2,600 yards and 29 touchdowns. His efforts led to an appearance in the College Football Playoff for the Broncos.

The No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft joined SB Nation (again) for a quick sitdown to discuss where he comes from, and what’s yet to come in the desert while wearing the Silver and Black.

JB: Growing up in a military household, how did that shape your core values both on and off the football field?

AJ: Yeah, always having to move, I had to constantly adapt to a new environment. I had to change, meet new people, build relationships, and always prove myself. Those are all things you do when playing sports. Whenever you’re on a new team or get new teammates, you have to build those relationships. I may have had a historical season in college, but that doesn’t matter now. I’m in the NFL, so essentially, I have to restart and do it all over again.

JB: What was playing football in Europe as a kid like?

AJ: In my freshman year, I played football in Italy. It was a dope experience. The competition wasn’t the best, I had like 1,200 rushing yards in like six games. But getting to travel the world and getting to go to Germany and Spain, and Belgium to play football and see different cultures was amazing.

JB: What does it mean to you to represent your Haitian culture at the NFL level?

AJ: It’s everything to me. Your culture, where you’re from - I was always taught to carry that wherever you go. I’m proud to be part of two different cultures, being that I was born in America but the majority of my family is from Haiti. My dad was born there. So just being able to represent a country that historically has been put down.

JB: What led to the move back to the United States, and ultimately choosing to go to Boise State?

AJ: In the military, they have terms where you’ll be here for three years, there for five years. So, his time was going to be up and we just wanted to find the right place and right area. Not just for football, I have siblings too, so they wanted to find the right school system, just the right area to raise a family, and it so happened to be Texas. Long story short, I started making plays and picking up some buzz. Boise State came pretty early. It was after my junior year, and they were the most consistent in showing real interest and a real plan and how they were going to develop me for the future.

JB: How did the Michael Myers stance in the backfield come to be? Was that by design or just coincidence?

AJ: It was just something I naturally did. I felt comfortable in that stance and somehow it turned into a sensation overnight, which was pretty cool.

JB: I heard Chip Kelly was trying to take that away. Have you pushed back on that at all?

AJ: I haven’t battled back too much. Just because I just got there and I’ve gotta earn my stripes first. Once I start making some plays and stuff, I don’t think we’re going to be too worried about the stance.

JB: If a 1,500-yard season comes, I don’t think Chip will be too worried about it.

AJ: I don’t think so either. And for the marketing and brand purposes, I’ve got to have it back at some point.

JB: Fans will be happy to hear that. Tell me about the Raiders, though. The clip of Jackson Powers-Johnson introducing himself to you went viral. What’s the culture like in Vegas?

AJ: It feels great. It’s obviously a great organization. One of the things that they’ve said is that it’s a relationship-based organization, and you could tell that pretty quickly just by my interaction with Jackson. Him coming, introducing himself, making it known that he’s my center. Which you have to love as a running back, you love the o-linemen. It’s been great. All the vets have been dope and the guys in my rookie class have been great, too.

JB: I don’t know if you had a chance to see what your teammate Brock Bowers said about you, but he said “Ashton Jeany is a beast. He’s quick, he’s fast, he’s rocked up, he’s thick.” Any comments on Brock Bowers saying that about you?

AJ: (Laughs) Hey, you emphasized the “rocked up” part.

JB: (Laughs) I’m just telling you what he said.

AJ: I appreciate him, man. He’s showing love, hyping me up. The word choice might, ya know, make people look twice.

JB: I think that’s why it went viral because everyone was like, “He said what?”

AJ: The word play may have brought question marks to people, but I knew what he meant so I don’t have a problem with it. And he sees a great athlete in me. I appreciate him. It means a lot coming from him because he had a historical rookie season and I’m excited to be teaming up with him.

JB: What’s Pete Carroll been like so far?

AJ: He’s been great. You can tell why he’s been part of a lot of winning teams. He sets the tone on how things are supposed to go, how we operate as a team. And obviously bringing in a leader in Geno Smith and having other guys like Maxx Crosby on the defensive side to continue that message along to everyone in the locker room has been good.

JB: Before you get out of here, I know you have a new partnership with Sharpie so tell me a little about that.

AJ: Yeah, I have to have an elite pen to sign all of my stuff, and getting to partner with Sharpie to get my own signature on it, and using it to sign the biggest contract of my career to this point is amazing.

JB: Alright man, I appreciate you taking the time to sit down with me today. Hopefully we can reconnect during the season, but good luck until then.

AJ: I appreciate you, thank you.