Ashton Jeanty Reflects on Military Influence Before NFL Draft

Green Bay, Wisconsin — Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is preparing to fulfill his lifelong dream by potentially being selected in the NFL Draft this Thursday night. Ahead of this big moment, Jeanty reflects on the lessons he’s learned from his father, Harry, a former Navy service member.

In a recent interview, Jeanty compared the rigorous testing involved in both military enlistment and the NFL Draft. “Before you get into the military, they do various tests, MRIs, screenings. It’s the same way that’s in the draft and combine,” he explained. Jeanty appreciates how these parallels have reinforced his dedication to football.

Jeanty and his father visited the General Mitchell Air National Guard Base in Milwaukee in partnership with USAA, a military support organization. “It really was a no-brainer for me. My relationship with my dad, him being in the military, but also just thankful to USAA for the partnership,” Jeanty said. The visit deepened Jeanty’s understanding of the military’s precision and attention to detail.

Ashton noted, “It was cool to see their daily process and how detailed everything is. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without their service.” He marveled at how little room there is for mistakes in military operations, stating, “They’re doing these things every day, so the precision and attention to detail is amazing.”

Now that Jeanty is older, he has more conversations with his father about his Navy experiences, including details from his time aboard a ship. “He tells me about stuff that happened on the ship. I was so young before, so I didn’t really understand it,” Jeanty shared.

On the field, Jeanty had a remarkable college career, earning the second-most rushing yards in a season, just shy of Barry Sanders‘ record. As he approaches the NFL Draft, he carries forward the values instilled in him by his military father.