Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Tuten was a recruit from Paulsboro High School in Paulsboro, N.J. in the class of 2021
Virginia Tech star Bhayshul Tuten is one of the most electric athletes in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s an elite speedster with game-changing explosiveness who has the potential to develop into a mismatch threat in the passing game. Tuten projects as a Day 3 selection who will begin his career as a rotational back.
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Bhayshul Tuten, RB Virginia Tech: 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Senior running back from Paulsboro, N.J.
Background: Tuten was a recruit from Paulsboro High School in Paulsboro, N.J. in the class of 2021. He didn’t receive a star rating or grade out of 100 from any major recruiting outlets. Tuten transferred from North Carolina A&T to Virginia Tech for the 2023 season. He finished his high school career with 429 carries for 3,768 yards and 77 touchdowns along with 35 receptions for 437 yards and seven touchdowns. Tuten also returned three kicks and a punt for a touchdown. He was invited to the Phil Simms North/South All-Star Game. In 2020, Tuten was named the Offensive Player of the Year for the Jersey Times. He finished his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Tuten’s 7.03 60-meter dash in 2021 was the eighth-fastest time in South Jersey history.
Injuries & Off-Field: Exited 2024 Georgia Tech game with an ankle injury and was spotted wearing a walking boot which led to him missing the Syracuse game, exited 2024 Clemson game while still dealing with the ankle injury
Awards: 2022 First Team All-Big South, 2022 Third Team FCS All-American, 2023 Third Team All-ACC (RB), 2023 Second Team All-ACC (All-Purpose), 2023 Second Team All-American (Sporting News Kick Returner), 2024 Second Team All-ACC
Pros: Freaks List inclusion, upside returning kicks, elite track speed, sudden acceleration, speed to finish home runs, good vision and recognition of run lanes, quick footwork, jump cuts help him survey and exchange gaps, sharp cut upfield and shoulder dip to get low, mixes run tempo to create favorable angles, punishes safeties for sharp downhill angles, frequently makes the first defender miss, hesitation moves and wiggle to shake defenders in space, sidesteps make defenders whiff, churns leg through contact, stiff arm, slips out of arm tackles, unexplored upside as a pass catcher, speed to stack linebackers on wheel routes, willing to deliver initial hit in pass pro
Cons: Far too many fumbles, light frame, lacks elite contact balance, frame limits impact between the tackles, not quite twitchy, jump cuts cover limited ground, only a few open field moves to elude tacklers, underdeveloped route tree, stops feet on contact in pass pro, play strength limits impact in pass pro
Overview: Tuten offers value as a rotational running back and kick returner. He scored two kick return touchdowns in 2023 thanks in part to his elite speed. Tuten appeared on Bruce Feldman’s 2024 Freaks List for The Athletic. According to Feldman, Tuten ran a 4.32 40-yard dash this past offseason and reached a top speed of 23.15 miles per hour. He also bench pressed 400 lbs. and jumped 39 inches in the vertical. The New Jersey native’s elite speed and sudden acceleration make him a home run threat every time he touches the ball. His vision and recognition of run lanes rank near the top of the class, and his quick footwork and jump cuts help him exchange gaps to find ideal run lanes. Tuten makes sudden, sharp cuts upfield and dips his shoulder to get low as he accelerates through the gap. He mixes his tempo to draw defenders downhill before accelerating past them. Tuten’s speed stresses pursuit angles from second and third level defenders and puts single-high safeties coming downhill in impossible situations. Despite his light frame and lack of elite contact balance, Tuten frequently finds ways to make the first defender miss. He uses hesitations, sidesteps, and above-average wiggle to force missed tackles. Even when contacted, he deploys a stiff arm and churns his legs through the tackle attempt, which helps him slip out of some arm tackles. The North Carolina A&T transfer falls short of being twitchy and lacks the size for a heavy dose of carries between the tackles at the NFL level. His elusiveness is impressive but falls short of what top running back prospects bring to the table. Tuten’s jump cuts cover limited ground, and he lacks a deep set of moves to make defenders miss in space. Fumbles have been a consistent issue for him since he arrived at Virginia Tech. He put the ball on the ground ten times in the past two seasons, including four times in 2024. Tuten delivers solid initial hits in pass protection but lacks the play strength and footwork to sustain blocks or anchor against powerful defenders. The Hokies failed to develop Tuten’s route tree and skills as a pass catcher, but his speed makes him a natural mismatch out of the backfield against linebackers and safeties. Expect him to be utilized as a late-down mismatch in the passing game at the NFL level.
Overall, Tuten is an elite speedster with the vision and natural feel for running lanes to provide offenses with a consistent jolt of electric production. If he improves his skills as a pass catcher, he could develop into one of the league’s more fearsome third down options. Tuten offers some of the lightning in a bottle the Miami Dolphins found in De'Von Achane.
Role & Scheme Fit: Outside zone
Round Projection: Late Fourth to Early Fifth Round
Size: 5'11", 209 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 12-26-24