Ashton Jeanty entered the NFL with explosive playmaking ability and an iconic backfield stance. Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is changing up the latter in hopes of keeping the former.
During recent workouts, it was noted that Jeanty's famous stance from Boise State -- likened to that of Michael Myers from Halloween -- was altered to a more traditional look.
Jeanty told Kay Adams on Up & Adams that Kelly approached him on the first day of Raiders rookie minicamp to talk about the stance.
"You know, sometimes you have to, you know, go with the flow," Jeanty said. "What's crazy is, Chip Kelly comes to me first day of rookie minicamp, and he's like 'You ever play basketball?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, I play basketball, you know I can dunk and all that.' He's like, 'OK, show me how you would guard me,' and he's acting like he's holding the ball."
Jeanty proceeded to show Adams how he would defend in an athletic stance.
"And then he's like, 'That's exactly why you have to be down in your running back stance,'" he continued.
The Heisman Trophy finalist generated 4,769 rushing yards in his three-year college career. In 2024, Jeanty earned 2,601 yards coming up just shy of Barry Sanders' all-time collegiate record (2,628).
The rookie added that he's not going to fight Kelly on the stance question just yet.
"He won for now. I'm going to try and persuade him one day," he said. "I have to earn my stripes and make some plays first, but I don't think it's going to be the end [of the stance]."
How Jeanty comes out of the gate in Vegas could determine the future of the Michael Myers stance. It could be hard to go back if he blasts off from the jump. If he struggles, Jeanty might persuade Kelly to let him try his old stance.
