Hogs Haven takes a look at 2025 NFL Draft prospects that could contribute to the Commanders
Bhayshul Tuten, RB
School: Virginia Tech University | Conference: Atlantic Athletic Conference
College Experience: Senior | Draft Age: 22 (Week 1)
Height / Weight: 5’9”/ 206 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 3rd-4th round
Player Comparison: Isiah Pacheco / Lamar Miller / Chase Brown
College Statistics
North Carolina A&T
Virginia Tech
| Rushing | Receiving | Scrimmage | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Y/G | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Y/G | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD | Awards |
| 2023* | Virginia Tech | ACC | JR | RB | 13 | 173 | 863 | 5.0 | 10 | 66.4 | 27 | 239 | 8.9 | 2 | 18.4 | 200 | 1102 | 5.5 | 12 | |
| 2024* | Virginia Tech | ACC | SR | RB | 11 | 183 | 1159 | 6.3 | 15 | 105.4 | 23 | 81 | 3.5 | 2 | 7.4 | 206 | 1240 | 6.0 | 17 | |
| Career | 24 | 356 | 2022 | 5.7 | 25 | 84.3 | 50 | 320 | 6.4 | 4 | 13.3 | 406 | 2342 | 5.8 | 29 | |||||
| Kick Returns | Punt Returns | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Ret | Yds | Y/Ret | KRTD | Ret | Yds | PRTD | APYd | Awards |
| 2023* | Virginia Tech | ACC | JR | RB | 13 | 19 | 550 | 28.9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1652 | |
| 2024* | Virginia Tech | ACC | SR | RB | 11 | 3 | 71 | 23.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1311 | |
| Career | 24 | 22 | 621 | 28.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2963 | |||||
Player Overview
Bhayshul Tuten started his collegiate career with the North Carolina A&T Aggies after graduating from Paulsboro (NJ) as a zero-star recruit. Becoming a full-time starter in his sophomore season, he broke the school record with 1,363 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. Building on that momentum, he transferred to Virginia Tech where he was the full-time starter. The next two seasons, he continued the production with 2,021 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns in 24 games. Tuten also totaled 50 receptions, 320 receiving yards, and 4 receiving touchdowns with the Hokies. Tuten also has kick return experience, primarily in 2023, where he returned two kickoffs to the house. Tuten garnered honors in both schools, such as Third Team All-ACC in 2023 and Second Team All-ACC in 2024. He was also a Senior Bowl invitee.
Tuten Bhayshul is a dynamic running back that combines explosive breakaway speed with patience, toughness, and contact balance. A lot of his carries came from the shotgun/pistol formation with Virginia Tech. He is a big play waiting to happen, able to change speeds in the same play. He runs with good pad level and is able to maintain contact balance through rushes. Though Tuten is fast, he is not as quick laterally. His path to being an every-down back relies on Bhayshul improving his pass blocking and expanding on his limited route tree from the backfield. Other negative marks on his game include ball security (eight fumbles in the last two seasons) and having a list of nagging injuries. Bhayshul Tuten finds himself in a strong running back class where he is likely to be drafted in Rounds 3-4 while his overall assessment would have him drafted a round earlier.
Awards & Recognition
- All-Big South First Team (2022)
- FCS Third Team All-American (2022)
- Third Team All-ACC (2023)
- Second Team All-ACC (2024)
- Senior Bowl Invitee (2025)
Metrics
Bhayshul Tuten is a RB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.32 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 132 out of 1935 RB from 1987 to 2025.
Pro day pending for remaining tests.https://t.co/tGGZhRHcHw pic.twitter.com/T7pLnFx2aY
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 11, 2025
Strengths
- Blistering home run speed. A big play waiting to happen.
- Patient runner, adjust speeds when necessary.
- Good contact balance and runs with good pad level.
- Willing pass blocker with good pad level.
- Has kick return experience with some production (2 return TDs).
- Has good hands receiving out of the backfield.
- Able to make defenders miss in space.
- Tough runner between tackles.
Weaknesses
- Ball security issue (8 fumbles with Virginia Tech).
- Mostly linear speed, not as fast moving laterally.
- Mainly ran screen and wide routes out of the backfield.
- Needs to be more consistent in staying in front of his blockers in pass protection.
- Knee injury concern.
Let’s See His Work
Interviews
How Will He Fit On The Team
Washington needs more juice in the running back room. The effectiveness of the running game from the running backs declined as the 2024 season progressed. Austin Ekeler was dealing with multiple concussions and Brian Robinson looked as if he didn’t have much to offer. It was the consensus Washington not only needed more depth but home-run ability in the running back room.
The solution could be from as close as Blacksburg, Virginia. Bhayshul Tuten has experience taking carries from the shotgun and running between the tackles with success. He is also used to catching screen passes and is a willing pass blocker. Even if Tuten doesn’t win the starting running back job in his rookie season, he can be a rotational back while also competing to be the Commanders next kick returner.
Tuten’s path to becoming a starting running back with the Commanders will depend on fixing his ball security and staying healthy until the opportunity comes. In Bhayshul Tuten, Washington could be drafting a future starter and a dynamic weapon for the offense and special teams.