After an impressive NFL Combine showing, Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten is a mid-round draft pick that is primed to make some noise in his first season.
Selected with the No. 104 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech, Tuten put in an impressive performance at Lucas Oil Stadium by running a 4.32 40-yard dash and a vertical jump of 40.50. Each of those feats were top amongst running backs who participated in the NFL Combine in 2025. It was a performance that put the former Virginia Tech running back in the mix of potential game-changing backs in this draft.
Obviously, it starts at the top with Ashton Jeanty, but Tuten is no joke. This dude totaled 2,963 all-purpose yards the last two seasons rushing the ball, catching the ball and returning kicks. Look for him to ride that production and his NFL combine hype into Year 1 of the NFL with the Jaguars, a team looking for a back to take the mantel as the team’s top running back and not look back.
Bhayshul Tuten a favorite to make noise in the NFL as a rookie running back
In ranking the top 5 NFL rookie running backs based on projected production in 2025, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso has Tuten coming in at No. 5 on the list. Tuten has a projection of 577 yards on the ground on 139 carries, which should put him in position to rise up the Jags’ running back depth chart.
Trapasso writes:
“Tuten was my No. 2 back in the 2025 class -- I adored his blend of breakaway speed, lateral bounce, and contact balance. I really don't know why he was a fourth-round pick. Maybe it was the nine fumbles in two seasons at Virginia Tech.
He does have Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby ahead of him on the depth chart, but I don't believe it'll take much time for Tuten's polished and dynamic talent to lead to a leap on said running back pecking order.”
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In a win-win scenario, Tuten will at the very least push Etienne and Bigsby to be at the top of their game which would give the Jaguars’ offense a big boost. The ceiling for the Jags offense is Tuten adding his speed to the offensive on a regular basis. Imagine Tuten, Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter on the field at the same time?
With his breakaway speed and dynamic ability on the field, we are going to go over those 577 yards for Tuten in 2025. He won’t come close to a 1,000-yard season given that he is sharing the rock with Etienne and Bigsby but one of two of those running backs may feel the heat in looking over their shoulder at Tuten’s emergence.
In all, Hunter will not be the only rookie sparking electricity in 2025 for the Jacksonville Jaguars.