Former Virginia Tech standout Bhayshul Tuten has officially launched his professional football career by signing his rookie contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday. Selected as the 104th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft—early in the fourth round—Tuten is now part of a select group of draftees to have finalized their contracts, leaving only 34 unsigned players from this year’s draft class.
Tuten, originally from Paulsboro, New Jersey, began his collegiate football career at North Carolina A&T. After two productive seasons there, he transferred to Virginia Tech following the 2022 season, where he quickly made an impact. Over his two seasons with the Hokies, Tuten amassed more than 2,000 rushing yards and recorded 25 touchdowns on the ground. He also demonstrated versatility, adding four receiving touchdowns and two kickoff return scores to his collegiate resume.
His athleticism and explosiveness caught the attention of scouts and analysts at the 2025 NFL Combine. Tuten led all running backs in the 40-yard dash with a blazing time of 4.32 seconds, which was also the fifth-fastest time among all participants. His impressive performance helped solidify his status as one of the top offensive prospects in this year’s draft.
However, Tuten’s college career wasn’t without challenges. Ball security remains a notable concern, as he fumbled nine times while playing for Virginia Tech. While he managed to recover or avoid losing many of those, it’s an area that will need improvement at the professional level. Proving to his coaches that he can protect the football will be essential to earning consistent playing time in the NFL.
Tuten now joins a Jacksonville Jaguars backfield that presents a mix of opportunity and competition. The team already features Travis Etienne, a former first-round pick, and Tank Bigsby, a promising young runner selected in the third round of the 2023 draft. Etienne had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to start his NFL career but experienced a drop in production last year, totaling just 558 rushing yards and averaging under four yards per carry over the past two seasons. Bigsby, on the other hand, had a breakout year in 2024, leading the team with 766 rushing yards and showing the potential to carry a larger workload.
With Tuten’s combination of speed, elusiveness, and playmaking ability, he could carve out a meaningful role in this evolving backfield. If he can overcome his fumbling issues and adapt quickly to the speed and complexity of the NFL, he may become a valuable asset in both the run and return games for Jacksonville.
Virginia Tech fans, affectionately known as Hokie Nation, are watching Tuten’s professional journey with pride and anticipation. After a stellar collegiate career, he now has the opportunity to prove himself on football’s biggest stage. As he begins this next chapter with the Jaguars, there’s a sense of optimism surrounding what he can achieve in the NFL.
Good luck, Bhayshul—your supporters back in Blacksburg and beyond are cheering you on every step of the way.
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