With the 2025 NFL Draft within the books, it’s time to replicate on how the Jacksonville Jaguars fared. Did rookie GM James Gladstone ship a masterclass, or has he simply set the Jags again 5 years? Fact is, we in all probability gained’t know that for a while. However we are able to get to know the latest members of the crew a little bit bit higher. Within the flatest of our mini-series of deep dives, listed here are three issues to find out about Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech:
Journey to relevance
Bhayshul Tuten was chosen 104th total in April’s draft, a becoming reward for a formidable faculty profession and a platform to start an expert one. However the outlook for Tuten wasn’t all the time so optimistic. Regardless of an excellent highschool resume, he didn’t get the eye his performances deserved…
A star for Paulsboro Excessive Faculty in New Jersey, Tuten would develop into a multi-faceted weapon for the Pink Raiders. Underneath the tutelage of legendary head coach Glenn Howard, he turned some of the productive operating backs within the nation, ending his profession with 3,768 yards speeding and 77 touchdowns on 429 carries for a mean of 8.8 yards per carry. Add to that his prowess as a receiver – 35 profession receptions for 437 yards and 7 touchdowns – and 4 landing returns on particular groups, and you’ll assume that Tuten could be in excessive demand as a recruit. As a substitute, he was deemed a zero-star recruit and obtained only one scholarship supply – from North Carolina A&T.
In two years with the Aggies, Tuten confirmed the entire of Faculty Soccer what that they had missed. After easing his approach in as a freshman, Tuten went on to report 1,363 yards and 13 touchdowns on 208 carries in 2022 – the fifth-best single-season speeding efficiency in A&T historical past. He broke each the varsity and convention report for consecutive 100-yard video games in a season, and earned All-Large South-first crew and FCS third-team All-America honors.
Lastly the FBS got here calling. Tuten went to Blacksburg, Virginia and picked up the place he left off in Greensboro, North Carolina – instantly changing into the beginning operating again for Virginia Tech. In two years with the Hokies, Tuten surpassed 2,000 speeding yards, added one other 320 as a receiver, and amassed 29 touchdowns in whole.
Any draft prospect who will get chosen has earned it. However perhaps, Bhayshul Tuten has earned it greater than most.
Velocity service provider
Operating backs that common 8.8 yards per carry at highschool, and 6.0 yards per carry in faculty, are typically fast. However there’s fast, after which there’s Bhayshul Tuten, who has rockets strapped to his cleats…
Ever since highschool, Tuten has been arduous to catch. In addition to his exploits on the gridiron, he was dominating on the observe too – and as a senior ran the eighth-fastest 60-meter time in South Jersey historical past, crossing the road in 7.03 seconds. Regardless of displaying that velocity on a weekly foundation at school, it wasn’t till the NFL mix the place Tuten actually burst into the draft dialog, the operating again posting a blazing 4.32 second forty yard sprint. That appeared to be the cherry on prime of an thrilling draft profile for Jaguars GM James Gladstone, who didn’t wait lengthy on Day 3 to offer Tuten the decision he’d been working in direction of since he first placed on pads.
That forty time was the quickest of any operating again at this 12 months’s mix – and Tuten ranked fifth of all attending prospects. If you happen to felt the Jags’ backfield wanted an injection of velocity this offseason, it obtained it.
Fertile NFL roots
As talked about earlier. Bhayshul Tuten hails from Paulsboro, New Jersey. A small city of roughly 6,000 inhabitants, Paulsboro might be greatest often called the location of Fort Billingsport, the primary federal land buy by the US. Or perhaps effectively remembered for its position as an important location through the Revolutionary Conflict. And for a choose few locals, they might inform you that it was the place the 2004 film ‘Jersey Woman’ starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez and Liv Tyler was filmed. Yeah, that one handed me by too…
Regardless of it’s tiny dimension and relative anonymity, Paulsboro does seem like excellent at one factor – producing NFL expertise. Earlier than Tuten, at least SEVEN skilled soccer gamers had been born and raised within the borough that sits on the financial institution of the Delaware River. It started with cornerback Kevin Ross, who from 1984 spent 14 years within the league, notably with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the place he went to 2 Professional Bowls. Subsequent up was Willie Lee ‘Flipper’ Anderson, a large receiver who hung out with the Rams, Colts and Redskins earlier than profitable a Tremendous Bowl with the Denver Broncos in 1997 – his remaining 12 months as a professional.
Since these two main lights, operating again Isaac Redman (Pittsburgh Steelers), security Anthony Scirrorro (three groups), defensive finish Alex Silvestri (who gained a hoop with the New England Patriots in 2011) and linebacker Gerald Hodges (5 groups) have all graced the league at numerous factors. One other, offensive sort out Julién Davenport, continues to be formally lively however and not using a crew, having simply completed his eighth NFL season with the Atlanta Falcons final 12 months.
Paulsboro is a manufacturing line of soccer expertise. Bhayshul Tuten hopes to be the subsequent from there to make his mark.