Bhayshul Tuten 2025 NFL Draft: RB Virginia Tech Hokies

In this loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, Bhayshul Tuten is an explosive running back to know. Playing RB for the Virginia Tech Hokies, Tuten has elite speed that will likely boost his draft stock. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook in this draft report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.

Bhayshul Tuten 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tuten’s journey to becoming an NFL prospect is a testament to perseverance and raw talent. Coming from Paulsboro, New Jersey, Tuten was a lightly recruited high school standout who didn’t garner significant attention despite posting eye-popping numbers (3,768 rushing yards, 77 touchdowns).

After landing at North Carolina A&T, an FCS program, he erupted as a sophomore in 2022 with 1,363 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. In the end, he earned Third-Team FCS All-American honors. Transferring to Virginia Tech in 2023, Tuten quickly established himself as a dynamic playmaker in the ACC. In total, he racked up back-to-back 1,000 total yard seasons (rushing 863 yards in 2023, 1,159 yards in 2024) and totaled 25 rushing touchdowns over two years with the Hokies.

Overall, Tuten’s blend of speed, toughness, and versatility has thrust him into the 2025 NFL Draft conversation as a potential Day 3 steal. Tuten’s elite athletic testing showcases rare speed and explosiveness for the position. Additionally, his 4.32 40 confirms his reputation as a home run threat. Moreover, his vertical and broad jump numbers highlight a lower-body power that translates to on-field burst.

HT: 5092
WT: 206
HAND: 968
ARM: 3348
40: 4.32

Strengths

• Elite Speed and Explosiveness: Tuten’s track background (7.03 60-meter dash in high school) shines through with breakaway speed that stresses defenses. Over 50% of his 2024 rushing yards came on runs of 15+ yards, ranking him among the nation’s top backs in breakaway percentage.
• Vision and Patience: In Virginia Tech’s zone-heavy scheme, Tuten excels at reading blocks, pressing the line, and finding cutback lanes. His calm footwork allows him to set up defenders before bursting through gaps.
• Contact Balance: Despite his smaller stature, Tuten runs with a low center of gravity and surprising power, consistently shrugging off arm tackles and finishing forward. He forced 69 missed tackles in 2023 and remained a tackle-breaking machine in 2024.
• Versatility: Tuten’s 91 career receptions (892 yards, 9 TDs) and kick-return prowess (951 yards, 2 TDs) make him a three-phase threat. His hands are reliable, and he’s shown flashes of stacking defenders on wheel routes.
• Competitive Toughness: Tuten plays with a chip on his shoulder, seeking contact and fighting for extra yards. He’s willing to pass protect, squaring up blitzers with a scrappy mentality.

Areas for Improvement

• Ball Security: Tuten’s most glaring flaw is his propensity for fumbles, with nine over his last two seasons (four in 2024 alone). His loose grip when fighting for yardage is a correctable but critical issue for NFL trust.
• Lateral Agility: While explosive in a straight line, Tuten lacks elite suddenness or twitchiness to make defenders miss in tight spaces. His cuts are functional but not sharp, limiting his elusiveness.
• Pass Protection Technique: Tuten’s effort in pass pro is commendable, but his size and inconsistent technique (occasionally dropping his head or lunging) leave him vulnerable against bigger, faster NFL defenders.
• Between-the-Tackles Durability: Tuten isn’t built for a 250-carry workload at his size. His contact balance is solid, but he consistently struggles to push piles or grind out tough interior yards.
• Limited Receiving Polish: While capable out of the backfield, Tuten’s route tree at Virginia Tech was basic, and his 2024 receiving production dipped (23 catches, 81 yards), raising questions about his ceiling as a pass-catcher.

Conclusion

Tuten is a one-cut runner who thrives in outside zone and stretch schemes, where his speed and vision can exploit overpursuing defenses. His 266-yard performance against Boston College in 2024— a Virginia Tech single-game record—displayed his ability to turn slivers of daylight into chunk plays. He manipulates his tempo to bait defenders, then explodes past them with a gear few backs possess. In the open field, he’s a nightmare, often outrunning angles and punishing safeties who take poor downhill paths.

As a receiver, Tuten shows natural hands and body control, adjusting to off-target throws and transitioning upfield quickly. His kick-return ability (two TDs in 2023) adds immediate special teams value, ensuring he’ll contribute from Day 1. However, his ball security issues pop up on tape—especially on secondary contact—and his pass protection needs refinement to earn third-down snaps.

Tuten’s rare athleticism and big-play ability make him an intriguing mid-round prospect in a loaded 2025 running back class. If he cleans up his fumbling and refines his third-down skills, he has the tools to become a dangerous weapon. For now, he’s a high-upside depth piece with the potential to outplay his draft slot.

Tuten profiles as a complementary back in a committee, ideally paired with a bigger, power-based runner to diversify an attack. His best fit is in a wide-zone system (think Shanahan-style offenses) that emphasizes speed to the edge and explosive plays. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, or Cincinnati Bengals, who value dynamic backs with special teams upside, could maximize his skill set. Ultimately, his ceiling is a high-end RB2 with 150-200 touches per season. However, ball security and pass-pro development will dictate his role early.

Like Raheem Mostert, Tuten brings blazing speed, a compact frame, and a knack for big plays. However, he’s less polished as a receiver and pass protector at this stage. Both share a linear running style and special teams impact, suggesting Tuten could carve out a similar niche with the right coaching. Look for Tuten to be a steal in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

Round Grade: 4th Round

Stats: Per Sports Reference

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