Ashton Jeanty is quietly having the greatest season by any running back in college football history. Although true fans of the sport are fully aware of what is going on at Boise State, he is not yet a well-known player amongst the casuals and that’s a real shame.
His name should be shouted from the mountaintops!
Jeanty ran for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns on 220 carries as a sophomore in 2023. Those were his numbers after playing a full 12-game schedule. It was a really strong year that put him on the map.
Now a junior, Jeanty is rapidly approaching last season’s totals with at least seven games left to play in 2024. He is averaging more than a first down every time he touches the ball.
The 5-foot-9, 215-pound running back has already scored 16 touchdowns with 1,031 yards on 95 carries. That is through the first five games of the college football season.
And those numbers actually come with a major, mind-blowing asterisk!
Jeanty did not play a single minute during the entire second half of a win over Portland State in Week 3. Head coach Spencer Danielson also pulled him after he scored three touchdowns in two quarters during a win over Utah State on Saturday.
Let’s take a look at the Heisman Trophy race. Ashton Jeanty is now the betting favorite after a wacky weekend of upsets.
- Ashton Jeanty +225
- Travis Hunter Jr. +300
- Cam Ward +400
- Jalen Milroe +1100
- Dillon Gabriel +1500
- Cade Klubnik +1600
- Jaxson Dart +1800
- Quinn Ewers +2000
- Carson Beck +2500
- Shedeur Sanders +3500
Most everybody on that list has played at least five games. Jeanty has played five games as well, technically speaking. However, it’s really more like four. Hence the asterisk…
He recorded 1,031 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns in only 16 quarters of play!