On April 24, the Las Vegas Raiders made headlines by selecting running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. You might remember him from Boise State. Or, better yet, from his time at Lone Star High School in Frisco. This wasn’t just any pick — it was historic.
According to ESPN, Jeanty became the first running back taken in the top six since 2018. But before he was breaking records in the Mountain West or lighting up draft boards, Jeanty was making his name known at Lone Star High School in Frisco.
A Frisco Football Powerhouse
Jeanty’s high school alma mater has quietly become one of the best pipelines for NFL talent in North Texas. Lone Star High School, coached by Jeff Rayburn, already sent players like Nick Bolton, Marvin Mims, Jaylan Ford, Jaylon Braxton, Garret Rangel, Chris Miller and Jaxon Lee to the top-tier college teams and even the NFL.
“It's been a powerhouse,” Jeanty said of the program in a YouTube video with Overtime SZN. “You won’t find a lot of better programs than the one right there, especially Coach Ray and the staff he’s built. He’s crazy about football. But if you're not doing your best, he’s going to make sure he gets it out of you each and every single day. That’s what really makes him a great coach.”
“You won’t find a lot of better programs than the one right there."
To celebrate Jeanty’s big night, Lone Star held a school-wide watch party as students, staff and teammates cheered on one of their own.
Ashton Jeanty's high school team reacts to him being selected 6th overall to the Raiders 🙌🤩 pic.twitter.com/mbB2tu1ri1
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 25, 2025
A Season For The Ages At Boise State
Per ESPN, after arriving at Boise State, Jeanty quickly made himself known. In 2024, he put together a historic campaign — rushing for 2,601 yards. He added 29 touchdowns and had six games where he rushed for more than 200 yards. That performance made him the Heisman Trophy runner-up and cemented his status as one of the top players in this year’s draft class.
What separated Jeanty from other backs? His ability to keep moving after contact. In 2024, he racked up 1,733 yards after contact — 590 more than any other FBS player. He averaged 4.6 yards after contact per attempt, leading all FBS running backs with at least 100 carries.
How Jeanty Ended Up With The Raiders
Though Jeanty spoke with 20 NFL teams during the draft process, the connection with the Raiders was strong from the start. Not only did Pete Carroll’s known love of the run game make the match logical, but Spytek himself admitted the pick came with family pressure. According to NFL news, at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting, Spytek joked that his son said he’d "walk out of the family" if Jeanty wasn’t their choice.
That relationship paid off. Now, Jeanty is poised to cash in — literally. Before taking a single NFL snap, he’s expected to become the second-highest-paid running back in the league. According to NFL cap expert Andrew Brandt, his rookie contract will include about $32 million in guaranteed money.
Frisco’s Next NFL Star
With his combination of elite production, resilience, and a support system rooted deeply in Frisco, Jeanty is ready for the national spotlight. And in a city that’s already produced more than its fair share of football talent, Lone Star High School can proudly add another name to its growing list of NFL standouts.
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