FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.
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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jarquez Hunter
Jarquez Hunter (RB – Auburn)
5-foot-10 | 209 Pounds
Background
Jarquez Hunter was a three-star recruit who served as Auburn’s second back behind Tank Bigsby for the first two seasons of his career, posting lines of 89-593-3 (6.7) and 104-675-7 (6.5) before taking over the starting role in 2023. Went 159-909-7 (5.7) that year and 187-1,201-8 (6.4) this past season. Also has 68 career receptions.
Positives
Productive two-year SEC starter and four-year contributor with escalating output from year to year, playing in a system that has been pretty balanced between zone and gap concepts. Probably at his best when executing inside-zone concepts. As a smaller back, Hunter has some natural leverage. Shows quick feet in the backfield and makes pretty clean cuts to slot into holes. Shows above-average vision and decisiveness to identify and hit a hole with minimal wasted time.
Hunter has adequate burst in the hole. Can get skinny and slip through creases for solid gains; nice body control to navigate through congestion. A smooth accelerator with what looks like solid long speed. Shows nice open-field vision, weaving through traffic and running through arm tackles at the second level.
A competitive player who gets behind his pads and lowers his pad level into contact to deliver some hits at the end of runs. Shows the ability to twist away from glancing hits to add a couple of yards after contact. Drives his legs to fight for extra yardage when wrapped up. Engages from his feet in blitz pickup and shows good physicality to chip when releasing in the passing game. Has a decent pair of hands to function as a safety valve (six drops against 68 career catches.)
Negatives
Hunter’s frame is a little bit thin for a feature back. Not the most powerful runner, struggling to push the pile and pick up tough yards after contact, especially before he’s been able to build up a head of steam. Has some occasional issues with balance and his pad level that crop up and limit the amount of power he’s able to run with.
Hunter won’t break a ton of wrap tackles. Ball security hasn’t been the best, with seven fumbles against 539 career carries. Occasionally lapses into throwing a shoulder in pass pro. Would like to see him play with more patience there; can commit too early, allowing pressure from other directions. As a receiver, usage was essentially that of a pure safety valve, often on delayed releases.
Summary
A pretty quick back with above-average vision, decisiveness, burst and open-field skills, Hunter has been able to produce in the SEC for the past four years, which is going to put him on any team’s radar.
At the same time, Hunter is not the most impressive physical or athletic specimen, with closer to average size and power with ball security issues. Consequently, looks like more of a late-round option who can generally get what’s blocked and who puts some nice pass-protection reps on tape, which could soften his learning curve.
Projection: Round 6
Check out all of our 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports 
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Jeanty proved he’s the total package this past season, with an unbelievable combination of vision, patience, creativity, agility, power, balance and speed that nearly allowed him to break Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record.
Can fit in any offensive scheme, but might be best in a scheme that runs a relatively high amount of outside zone to maximize his home-run hitting ability. After a year in which he dazzled viewers with a nonstop succession of dominant highlights, Jeanty should be a lock for the first round, potentially going in the top half of the frame. Projects as a long-term, every-down feature back who should make an immediate impact.
Projection: Round 1
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Ashton Jeanty
Skattebo was one of the most productive and exciting players in college football this past season. He combined a natural feel for the position, smooth running skills, a tough and physical temperament and exceptional contact balance, culminating in well over 2,000 total yards on the season.
There’s not a whole lot to critique about his game, besides his lack of ideal explosiveness and long speed. Otherwise, Skattebo has the look of a potential every-down back in the league or at least the power back in a one-two punch. Could get some second-day looks.
Projection: Round 3/Round 4
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Cam Skattebo
A fast, agile back with good burst and excellent open-field running skills, Neal functioned as a workhorse for the Jayhawks but might be more of a change-of-pace back at the next level, as he may struggle to grind out tough yardage between the tackles as a pro.
Neal’s snaps were relatively balanced throughout his career (more gap until this past season, then a little bit more zone), but might be better suited to a zone-blocking scheme where he’s able to stretch defenses out and cut upfield when he sees daylight. Probably more of a mid-round option.
Projection: Round 5
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Devin Neal
More 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports for Running Backs
- Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)
- DJ Giddens (Kansas State)
- Jordan James (Oregon)
- Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech)
- Brashard Smith (SMU)
- Damien Martinez (Miami)
- Jarquez Hunter (Auburn)
- Kalel Mullings (Michigan)
- LeQuint Allen Jr. (Syracuse)
- Raheim Sanders (South Carolina)
- Phil Mafah (Clemson)
- Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech)
- Trevor Etienne (Georgia)
- TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
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