In 2018, Jim Davis, American football coach at Naples Middle/High School in Italy, faced an unusual decision. For the first time, he found himself needing to break his rule of not lining up a freshman on offense. The reason: the exceptional talent of Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty, 14 years old, had arrived in Italy with his family due to his father’s work at the naval base in Aversa. Davis, impressed by Jeanty’s athletic abilities in sports like basketball and track and field, did not hesitate to give him the opportunity. Davis remembered how Jeanty outperformed high school students in sprint races and almost achieved a slam dunk on the basketball court. “That required a lot of strength for a kid maybe 5’6″ and 12 or 13 years old,” Davis commented.La leyenda de Ashton Jeanty comenzó a crecer en la escuela secundaria de Nápoles en Italia.In Naples, where student turnover was constant, Davis adapted his offensive strategy based on the available personnel. With the arrival of Jeanty, the instruction was clear: give him the ball at all costs. In one practice, Jeanty demonstrated his power by knocking down a senior linebacker. Davis, who has been a coach in Naples since 2016, recalled that “he was betting on him before the season started… He put that kid straight on his rear.” Jeanty led his team to a 6-0 record, accumulating 1,223 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Davis knew that Jeanty’s destiny would take him to the United States, where he could compete against stronger competition. From afar, Davis watched Jeanty become a star at Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas, and then a Heisman Trophy finalist at Boise State. Now, with the Las Vegas Raiders, Jeanty faces a task similar to the one Davis entrusted him with seven years ago in Italy.
When the Raiders selected Jeanty in the April draft, it became clear that he would play an important role in the offense. Coach Pete Carroll has compared him to Marshawn Lynch, and Jeanty has played most of his repetitions with the first-team offense during the preseason. In his first year, the Raiders expect Jeanty to help improve the league’s worst rushing attack in 2024. Both Davis and those who have witnessed Jeanty’s talent up close know that he is ready for the challenge.
“We gave this a lot of importance. Everyone is watching you, and he embraced that idea. And so, it’s going to be really exciting to see what happens”.
Pete Carroll, Raiders coach
Christian Albright, Jeanty’s former teammate in Naples, still can’t believe his friend has made it to the NFL. Albright remembers that Jeanty “ran for 200 to 300 yards per game… He was intimidating the guys.” Albright also remembers Jeanty throwing his first touchdown pass.
In Lone Star High School, Jeanty also left his mark. Jeff Rayburn, head coach at Lone Star, remembers a hit by Jeanty that generated amazement in everyone. Over time, Jeanty became a key player in the team’s offense, accumulating impressive statistics. Even in a game against Aledo High School, despite the strong rival defense, Jeanty managed 16 carries for 158 yards and three touchdowns. The coaches admired his ability to bring out the best in his teammates and wondered why he hadn’t received more attention in the recruiting process.Dave Henigan, coach at Ryan High School, used to recommend recruiters to look for a running back in Lone Star. Despite this, Jeanty was recruited by Boise State, where he proved his worth. In his final year at Boise State, he averaged 185.8 yards per game and scored 29 touchdowns, propelling the Broncos to a 12-2 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Tom Allen, former Penn State defensive coordinator, compared Jeanty to Leonard Fournette for his power and strength. Although the Penn State defense managed to contain Jeanty in their matchup, he still managed 104 yards on 30 attempts. Allen was impressed by his performance and respect for the player.In the night of the NFL draft, Davis hoped Jeanty would be selected early. The Raiders made his wish come true. Jeanty arrives at the Raiders with high expectations, and is expected to be a key element in the offense along with Geno Smith, Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. Raiders’ center, Jackson Powers-Johnson, was excited to block for Jeanty and for the possible celebrations. Offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, is optimistic about Jeanty’s potential, based on his performances against Oregon and Penn State in 2024.
As in his first year in Naples, Jeanty will have a fundamental role from the beginning, and he has shown that he is ready for the challenge. “From being the best here as a freshman to [not running the ball again] until his senior year, many guys could have given up, but he was determined,” Davis said.
