As a child, Ashton Jeanty was more interested in basketball than football. So before he grew into a 5-foot-9, cleat-wearing battering ram, his favorite athlete was LeBron James. The son of a Navy officer who traveled around the world, Gendy spent much of his childhood in Florida while James was playing for the Miami Heat.
“Seeing (LeBron) overcome everything,” Gendy said, “I feel like I’ve been doing the same thing throughout my career.”
That’s why Boise State running backs are always the answer to the same question – who is your favorite athlete? — for a generation of Broncos fans.
Jeanty did not win the Heisman Trophy, finishing second behind Colorado’s Travis Hunter. But he did score the most points as a Heisman runner-up and forced the team to a narrow loss since 2009. ) and a unanimous All-American selection. There’s another important milestone in Jeanty’s goals.
He enters the College Football Playoff with 2,497 yards this season, just 131 yards shy of the official college football single-season record set by Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders in 1988. Jeanty is averaging 192.1 yards per game this season, and there’s at least a good chance he’ll change that mark in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals against Penn State on Dec. 31.
But Jeanty is more than just a Heisman runner-up and future NFL first-round running back, he’s on the verge of a record-breaking statistical accomplishment. In a Boise State program where he’s known for killing giants and has a rich history as a running back, he managed to stand out.
“Ashton Jeanty was phenomenal for college football and he’s going to be phenomenal for the NFL,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “Not just from what he does on the court, but from the culture he brings.”
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There are some nuances to Sanders’ record. In 1988, he rushed for 2,628 yards in just 11 games on his way to the Heisman Field; Jeanty had already played in 13 games. If you add in the 222 yards he gained in the Holiday Bowl before the official bowl numbers were counted, Sanders’ unofficial record is 2,850 yards.
There would be those who would be unimpressed by Jeanty’s record if he did set it, but Sanders wouldn’t be among them, who sent a tweet wishing Jeanty good luck before Boise won the Mountain West Championship.
“My fans can complain but records are made to be broken and I support you,” Sanders wrote.
Hey @ashtonjetty2 – Good luck tonight.
My fans may complain but records are made to be broken and I support you. I love seeing all of this @NFL and @NCAA #RB Shows the value of the position. #RunRunRock pic.twitter.com/bk0NtPbAL0— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) December 6, 2024
When asked about Sanders’ accomplishment, Genty said it would be “like the icing on the cake, breaking a record that’s been there for decades,” especially after he fell just one step behind in the Heisman race. But when Boise State enters the inaugural 12-team playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Group of 5, whether it’s reached or not, whether it’s controversial or not, that record doesn’t change what Jeanty has accomplished.
The statistics are as shocking as Paul Bunyan playing high school football. Rushed for nearly 2,500 yards and led the FBS with 30 total touchdowns, 7.3 yards per carry, and six games with over 200 yards. He had a season-low 127 yards against Portland State and was pulled from the game at halftime. Jeanty single-handedly defeated 115 FBS teams this season. The next closest player in terms of rushing yards is North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, who has 1,660 yards. That’s fewer than the 1,889 yards Jeanty gained after contact. He is the first since 2019 to rush for 2,000 yards.
“I love watching Ashton play — the combination of physicality, speed and control,” said Alexander Mattison, a former Boise State University running back who now plays for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. ) said. “But I’ve been able to get to know him, not just as a football player but as a genuine person. It’s been so fun to see him get everything he deserves. He loves the game and if you love the game , it will love you the same.
Boise State’s running back pedigree is impressive, and Jeanty will be the next running back for the Broncos to go on to play in the NFL. Jeanty surpassed Cedric Minter as the program’s all-time leading rusher this season and broke several other records that Minter had held since 1980. The tailgate goes all the way to Ian Johnson, best known for winning the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Jay Ajayi (former single-season record holder), Jeremy McNichols, Mattison and George Holani.
That’s a pretty long list, and that’s just the running backs. Former quarterback Kellen Moore is the winningest quarterback in FBS history (50) and the program’s only other Heisman finalist (he finished fourth in 2010 name). He remains an icon at Boise State. However, after this season, no one can compare to Genti’s performance on the pitch or his performance off it.
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“He’s been a consistent captain and part of our leadership committee,” Danielson said, adding that he meets one-on-one with Jeanty every week after those committee meetings.
“Every time we have these meetings, it’s not about Ashton. He’s asking about the team, about a player, and how he can lead the team better and have a greater impact,” Danielson said. . “It’s not common. He’s different in every way.
Jeandi does care about awards and honors. He doesn’t shy away from that, whether he’s gushing about the personal goals he’s set for himself this season or lamenting his performance in the Heisman: “I really feel like I should walk away with this award.” It’s also true. Part of the reason he returned to Boise State this season was because he believed he could achieve everything he wanted where he was.
But Jandi is also concerned about the legacy he will leave behind. That’s why he’s willing to be a captain, a leader and a de facto spokesperson. That’s why he turned down more lucrative Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) offers to move elsewhere last offseason. That’s why he established the Ashton Jeanty football scholarship in October, even before he broke all records and became a Heisman finalist and led the Broncos to a Mountain West title and a first-round bye in the CFP. The scholarship has raised more than $180,000 toward its goal of $200,000, which will support future Boise State athletes.
“He’s like a movie star here,” athletic director Jeremy Dickey said. “We ultimately have to keep him safe so we can cut the autograph and photo lines. It’s our responsibility to help him because he’s a good kid and he doesn’t want to say no to anyone.
Jeanty is already the most decorated player in program history and helped Boise State qualify for the premier league national championship for the first time. He has a chance to set a single-season rushing record that will stand for decades.
None of this will outlast his significance to Boise State football and its surrounding community.
“Culture is about the people here — just bringing back Boise State’s past and having a positive impact on everyone,” Genty said. “People won’t remember the statistics, they won’t remember the games. But they will remember how I treated people, how I conducted myself throughout my time here and the impact I had.
— CompetitorVic Tafur contributed reporting
(Photo: Loren Orr/Getty Images)
