Ashton Jeanty Names Marshawn Lynch, Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry as NFL Inspirations

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is trying to model his game off a variety of stars who have excelled at the position in the NFL.

"One of the first guys I watched really closely was Marshawn Lynch because I just liked how hard he ran and the physical style. I mean, those crazy runs, breaking all those tackles," Jeanty said to Fox Sports' Ben Arthur. "You talk about contact balance, right?

"Catching the ball out of the backfield. Lining up as a receiver. Catching it [like] Alvin Kamara. You talk about using that stiff arm, right? I look at Derrick Henry for that a lot. But I definitely just watched a lot of different guys. … Even now, since [people have] started comparing me to Barry Sanders, just watching his film and just seeing how elusive he is, trying to add that to my game."

It doesn't sound as though Jeanty wants to place himself into a box.

Lynch, Kamara and Henry were three different running backs with their own distinct style. Kamara is the biggest outlier as somebody who has been a high-volume receiving target.

Mixing together their best traits would make Jeanty the most unstoppable ball-carrier in the NFL, and that's kind of the point. He told Arthur his overarching goal is "to be the best that’s ever played the game."

That's a lofty target, but you wouldn't rule it out after Jeanty's prolific final season with the Broncos. He ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging 7.0 yards per carry.

The Heisman Trophy runner-up is the No. 8 overall player on Bleacher Report's 2025 big board.

Maybe the 660 touches Jeanty had between 2023 and 2024 start to add up, or he may have feasted on weaker competition in the Mountain West Conference.

But a lot of fans will believe he can be a truly special back at the next level.