If the NFL is finally ready to run it back with running backs, Ashton Jeanty will be there to do his best Saquon Barkley impression.

Jeanty faced a distinctly different line of questioning at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine than other top college running backs have in recent years.

Gone was, “What do you think of the way that the NFL has devalued the position?” and in its place was, “What did you think from afar of this year’s running back resurgence?”

All because the Eagles’ Barkley, Ravens’ Derrick Henry, Packers’ Josh Jacobs and Texans’ Joe Mixon had major career revivals after changing teams last offseason.

And because the Falcons’ Bijan Robinson, Bills’ James Cook and Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs have been touchdown machines on their first contracts.

“Saquon did a great job putting on for all the running backs,” Jeanty said. “It’s a great time to be coming into this league. As I can see, the value of running backs is definitely going back up. Not just him and all the guys doing exceptional things in the NFL, but also right here in my draft class.”

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was at the forefront of devaluing running backs a decade ago, and he was the first who recognized that the pendulum had swung too far in that direction when he poached Barkley from the Giants.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta wasn’t far behind.

“Running backs are kind of like the stock market,” DeCosta said. “They were up. Then we went through this period where the analytics certainly de-emphasized the position.

“These are guys that impact games. I think they’re looked at as probably replaceable by some people, but if you have a great one, if you have a historic one, you just can’t replace those guys. They impact the game in many different ways and are nightmares for defense.”

Jeanty is expected to cause many sleepless nights for NFL opponents.

The comparison is obvious.

Simultaneous to Barkley setting an NFL single-season rushing record (playoffs included) with 2,504 yards and scoring seven touchdowns of 60 yards or longer last season, Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards (the second-best single-season total in FBS history) and five gains of at least 70 yards at Boise State.

The only thing that Jeanty didn’t do — and admitted that he probably can’t do — is reverse hurdle a defender.

“My best trait is my big ability to have those 60-, 70-yard runs,” Jeanty said. “Congrats to Saquon on a great season and getting in the right situation. The ability to make that first guy miss in space is our similarity.”

Jeanty finished second to two-way threat Travis Hunter in the closest Heisman Trophy race in 15 years.

Hunter is a consensus top four pick, while Jeanty is expected between No. 7 to the Raiders and No. 22 to the Chargers.

Will Jeanty set out to punish teams that make the mistake of passing on him?

The last thing that the Giants — who reportedly met with Jeanty at the combine despite general manager Joe Schoen’s conviction that pick No. 3 is too high to draft a running back — need is another running back hungry for revenge.

“I wouldn’t say a ‘mistake,’ ” Jeanty said. “The guys mentioned have all been doing special things and showing that if you have a special X-factor player at the running back position it can really enhance offense.”

Does Jeanty see himself in that X-factor light?

“Of course,” he said.

So do others.

“I’m a huge believer in him,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “He has an extremely high floor along with an extremely high ceiling.

“The interesting part, from talking to people around the league, is because of the depth of the class, if you have multiple needs, maybe you could see a scenario where teams are going to punt on running backs early and then just know that ‘I still got some options there on Day 2.’ That’s with the full appreciation that there is more love for running backs around the league after this last season.”

North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and the Ohio State duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are the top backs in a deep class.

“I can’t remember this number of legit prospects at the running back position,” Seahawks general manager Jon Schneider said. “I usually don’t talk about depth in the draft, but it’s just, it’s sticking out this year.”

A team that uses draft depth as a reason to pass on Jeanty could wind up with Barkley-sized regrets.

“I think they were probably devalued a little bit too much,” Commanders general manager Adam Peters said. “And I think it’ll even out and kind of go back to where it should be.”