Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season has a couple of very exciting rookie debuts. Perhaps the two most exciting are Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.
The two were locked into a very tight Heisman Trophy race during the last college football season. Jeanty put up the best rushing numbers for a running back since Barry Sanders, while Hunter played two different positions at an elite level, which is very rare.
Hunter ended up winning, but Jeanty doesn’t hold it against him.
“I have nothing against him,” Jeanty told Adam Caparell of GQ Sports. “He knows that. I know he has nothing against me. We’ve talked and we’re cool. But if the media likes that we’re against each other, go ahead.”
The main reason there’s been speculation about the two players having beef is because Hunter seemingly downplayed Jeanty’s season ahead of the final Heisman Trophy decision.
“I know I can win it, but I don’t know who’s there,” Hunter said on the “Outta Pocket with RGIII” podcast. “I mean y’all see Ashton Jeanty, it’s not like we haven’t seen a running back that’s good. We haven’t seen a player that plays both ways and I’m gonna keep saying that.”
Jeanty never clapped back at Hunter, and it sounds like they’ve cleared the air. The Raiders and Jaguars face off in Week 9.
Jeanty Isn’t Feeling Pressure Ahead of Debut
Jeanty is one of the most hyped running backs to enter the NFL in a long time. The Raiders had the worst running game in the league last season, so he’s going to have a big role as early as Week 1 against the New England Patriots.
For Jeanty, he’s trying not to overthink his debut.
“[I’m] not going to make it any bigger than it is,” Jeanty said, via Raiders.com. “You’re still playing football, still doing what we’ve been doing, but obviously it’s my real debut, so I’m excited.”
“Prepare like I have before,” Jeanty added. “Obviously, in the NFL details are a step higher, so I’m taking my details a step higher and how I’m preparing for the game, whether that’s watching film, making sure I know the playbook in and out, what I’m going to see on defense. But exactly that, prepare like it was a Super Bowl game or not, prepare the exact same way.”
Pete Carroll Has Message for Rookies
Jeanty isn’t the only rookie set to have a big role this season. The Raiders are going to rely on several rookies to make plays.
Head coach Pete Carroll loves playing young players, and he had a simple message for them ahead of Week 1.
“[A]ll I’ve ever asked of our guys is to be the best they can be. And so, there’s that pressure,” Carroll said. “It doesn’t have to do with outside expectations and all that. I think that allows them to be more calm and more composed and more focused in the moments. That’s what we’re trying to get done with everybody on the football team, but for the young guys, it’s really important too.”
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