Ashton Jeanty: College Football’s Newest Phenomenon, and What It Means for the Boise State Broncos

Published: Sunday, November 10, 2024

by Matthew Nazario

1525 total yards, an average of 200.8 rushing yards per game, over eight yards per carry, and 21 touchdowns. On the surface, it may seem these are the stats of a player in a video game such as Madden or College Football 25, with the difficulty settings on rookie.

However, these statistics belong to none other than Ashton Jeanty, running back for the #12 Boise State Broncos, through the first eight weeks of the college football season. Standing menacingly in the backfield at 5’9’, 215 pounds, the junior from Jacksonville, Florida has made enough waves and highlights to make a feature length film.

The 21st century has seen quite a few sensational college running backs, lest we forget the phenoms that were Darren McFadden, Adrian Peterson, and Reggie Bush in the 2000s, or more recently Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry in the 2010s. Jeanty has etched his way into the same conversation amongst the elites of college football with his tremendous junior year.  

Statistically, Jeanty has noticeably improved in great strides since first suiting up for the Broncos. He finished his freshman season with 821 total rushing yards and seven touchdowns, his sophomore year with 1347 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, and in his present junior year stands at 1525 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns despite there being four games left in the season. Boise State is third in the nation in both points per game (45.8) and touchdowns (48) respectively, and Jeanty has accounted for 21 of Boise State’s touchdowns and 126 points as a result.

His monumental season up to this point, of course, raises the question of whether or not he will have a serious chance at winning the Heisman Trophy come December. 2024 has provided quite a star-studded lineup of candidates for this year’s Heisman, with not only Ashton Jeanty, but the likes of Cam Ward (QB, Miami), Dillon Gabriel (QB, Oregon), and Travis Hunter (WR/DB, Colorado) to name a few. If Jeanty were able to secure the coveted prize, he would be the first running back to win the award since Derrick Henry in 2015, when the now-Baltimore Ravens superstar played for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Broncos find themselves sitting atop the Mountain West conference in the middle of what has been, so far, a season to remember. Their only loss amidst a 7-1 campaign came at the hands of the Oregon Ducks in week two, off a game-winning field goal attempt with a final score of 37-34. While a loss is still a loss, Oregon is currently 9-0 and the #1 team in the country; Boise State was the only team besides #2 Ohio State to keep their games with Oregon to one possession, as Oregon has dominated the rest of their opponents by a combined score of 249-77.  It is an incredibly encouraging outcome, despite a loss, to have gone toe-to-toe with the now #1 team in the nation.  

In addition, Boise State took down the now #21 Washington State Cougars 45-24, in a game where Jeanty nearly outscored the opposition completely on his own with a 266-yard, four touchdown performance.  
While Jeanty has taken up most of the headlines during the Broncos special season so far, the last few weeks of play have shown the team around him improving. As a result, the Broncos are becoming a serious threat to anyone who crosses their path come playoff time.  

In their previous outing against the San Diego State Aztecs, Jeanty had his usual dominant performance with 180 yards as well as two touchdowns before the day was over. The Broncos passing attack had one of their best games all season, scoring three more touchdowns through the air in their 56-24 beatdown of the Aztecs.  

The day was ruled by Broncos QB Maddux Madsen, with 307 passing yards including three passing touchdowns all to wide receiver Latrell Caples. Both of them had their best offensive performances all season so far. Ever since their loss to Oregon, the defense has slowly but surely improved, holding their opponents to under 30 points the last five weeks and are second in the country in sacks with 38 team sacks.  

In years prior, Jeanty and the #12 Boise State Broncos would be considered just a flash in the pan of the regular season. But an interesting change in the college football playoff format has created a new golden opportunity; effective this playoff season is the move to increase the field of participants from four to 12, a change that fans and critics alike have requested for years.  

The Broncos are 7-1 and are grinding their way to undefeated status in conference play thus far. Head coach Spencer Danielson’s squad are in an ideal spot to not only clinch a playoff berth, but to potentially surprise the football fandom and make a push to the championship.  

With the rest of the team beginning to get hot at the right time, and Jeanty continuing to build his case for the Heisman Trophy, Boise State is certainly a team no one should want to bump into come January. 

Matthew Nazario can be reached at matthew.nazario@student.shu.edu. 

 

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