Jaydon Blue RB Texas | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Jaydon Blue RB Texas
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/20/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.38 seconds (94%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.2 DOB: 01/08/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | |
| Last Updated: 03/20/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.38 seconds (94%*) | |
| Age: 21.2 DOB: 01/08/2004 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 82.7 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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82% |
| Break Tackles: |
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85% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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69% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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46% |
| Run Blocking: |
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60% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#169
Position rank:
#19
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| College Games: 30 College Snaps: 578 | ||
ESPN RATING: 81/100
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247 RATING: 95/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Blake Watson - Memphis |
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90% |
| TJ Pledger - Utah |
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69% |
| Kyren Williams - Notre Dame |
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68% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Jaydon Blue came from the Houston prep scene as a four-star recruit with electrifying speed that translated immediately to the college level. Born and raised in Houston, Blue starred at Klein Cain High School where he accumulated over 3,700 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns in just two varsity seasons before skipping his senior year. The 5'9", 196-pound speedster backed up his high school track credentials (10.70 in the 100m) by blazing a 4.38 forty at the NFL Combine.After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2022 (15 carries, 33 yards), Blue's role expanded each season in Austin. His sophomore campaign showed flashes with 398 rushing yards on just 65 attempts, including his first career 100-yard game against Texas Tech where he ripped off a 69-yard run. Blue's junior season proved to be his breakout, as he established himself as a legitimate dual-threat with 124 yards and four total touchdowns in a statement game against ULM, followed by his career-best 146 rushing yards against Clemson in the CFP First Round that included a 77-yard touchdown sprint.
Despite splitting backfield duties throughout his Texas career, Blue's explosiveness earned him increasing opportunities in the passing game, culminating in a 59-yard, two-touchdown receiving performance against Ohio State in the CFP Semifinal. Though he never became the featured workhorse, Blue's big-play ability and improved receiving skills made him a valuable weapon in the Longhorns' SEC Championship and College Football Playoff run before declaring early for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Explosive accelerator who hits top gear in a blink – can turn a crease into six points with legitimate 4.3 speed that translates to game situations.
- Shows springy bounce cuts that allow him to flash into adjacent gaps when the designed hole isn't there, making him dangerous on zone concepts.
- Possesses ankle flexion and quick-twitch agility to make defenders look silly in space – can stack multiple cuts without losing momentum.
- Natural hands-catcher who expanded his receiving arsenal from simple check-downs to wheel and angle routes for chunk plays.
- Demonstrates twitchy footwork to set up defenders in space – shows the ability to stutter-step and explode past attempted arm tackles.
- Exhibited improved patience running between the tackles during his junior year, showing development from his early tendency to bounce everything outside.
- Thrives in wide zone schemes where he can use his vision to find cutback lanes and hit the afterburners once he spots daylight.
- Shows flashes as a pass blocker when locked in – has enough pop in his pads to stymie blitzers who don't outweigh him significantly.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Alarming ball security issues with four fumbles lost on limited touches – carries the ball too loosely when hitting the second level.
- Lacks consistent processing speed in pass protection, leading to mental errors and free rushers that will get his quarterback killed on Sundays.
- Runs with a narrow base and average contact balance – doesn't consistently fall forward or break tackles against bigger defenders.
- Shows inconsistent vision on interior runs, sometimes missing cutback lanes or hesitating rather than hitting the hole with authority.
- Limited college workload (145 career carries) raises questions about durability and ability to handle significant NFL touches.
Scouting Report: Summary
Blue has home run-hitting potential that offensive coordinators will salivate over, but his limited college production and rough edges mean he'll likely begin his NFL career as a change-of-pace back in a committee approach. His elite acceleration and improving receiving skills make him an intriguing chess piece for creative play-callers looking to generate explosive plays.Teams running wide zone concepts will maximize Blue's talents, allowing him to use his vision and burst to exploit cutback lanes. His ability to contribute in the passing game gives him third-down value, though his protection issues must be addressed before he can be trusted in those situations consistently. The fumbling concerns will limit his touches until proven fixed.
Given his developmental track at Texas and limited workload, Blue projects as a mid-round selection with significant upside. If the ball security and pass protection issues get cleaned up, Blue has the juice to become a dynamic complementary weapon who can turn any touch into a highlight reel touchdown.
Jaydon Blue percentiles vs other Running Backs (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Jaydon Blue (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
161.4
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
19.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.