Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty played high school football in the Dallas area, and he wants to do the same at the next level.

“I would love to play for the Cowboys, it would be like a dream come true,” Jeanty told Pat Doney of NBC Dallas-Fort Worth on Saturday.

He also pointed out “Dallas, they’ve always had a good running back. And when they have a good running back, they play a lot better.”

The Cowboys have the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, so they may have the opportunity to select the Heisman Trophy finalist if they want him.

B/R’s NFL Scouting Department projected Jeanty to last to No. 22 overall in its latest mock draft with the Pittsburgh Steelers choosing him. He was the first running back taken in the mock draft, which comes as no surprise given his overall production.

B/R’s scouts ranked him as the top running back and seventh-best overall player in its latest big board of prospects.

Yet it also projected the Cowboys to take Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 12th pick to give Dak Prescott another target alongside CeeDee Lamb. There is also something to be said about wide receivers being more valuable than running backs in today’s NFL, although Jeanty could also open up more space for Lamb by drawing additional defenders into the box.

All the Boise State star did this past season was run for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns while leading the Broncos a first-round bye and the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff.

It was one of the best individual seasons in college football history for a running back, as he threatened Barry Sanders’ record of 2,628 yards and 37 rushing touchdowns from the 1988 campaign.

Whenever a running back is mentioned alongside Sanders, it is sure to turn heads.

And the Cowboys have a rich history of running backs with players such as Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, Ezekiel Elliott and DeMarco Murray, among others, dominating for stretches. Rico Dowdle was solid this season on his way to 1,079 rushing yards, but he also wasn’t unstoppable like some of the Dallas greats.

Perhaps Jeanty can be that next Dallas great if the team drafts him.