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Ashton Jeanty could win Heisman and break NCAA rushing record. He was born in Jacksonville
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- Ashton Jeanty could win Heisman and break NCAA rushing record. He was born in Jacksonville
Northeast Florida has already produced one Heisman Trophy-winning running back in Derrick Henry . Could Ashton Jeanty make it two?
The Boise State star is putting up preposterous numbers to start the 2024 season. Through just six games, Jeanty has run for 1,248 yards and 17 touchdowns. His combination of speed and power are tough to stop: If you only counted his yardage after contact, he'd still have 914 yards and be second in the nation in rushing.
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Despite opposing teams loading up to stuff Boise State's run game, Jeanty is still destroying defenses and could break Barry Sanders' all-time college football rushing record. If the Broncos make the Mountain West championship game and Jeanty plays in the bowl game (and especially if they're in the College Football Playoff), he has a chance 3,000 yards.
Sure, Jeanty plays in a weaker conference, but the Broncos nearly upset current No. 1 Oregon thanks to his 192 yards and three TDs. He burst out for a 70-yard touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter, then gave Boise State the lead a few minutes later.
There's a lot about Jeanty that is unorthodox, from his straight-up stance before the snap to his route to college football stardom that took him from Jacksonville to a Naval base north of Naples, Italy. Before he returns from a bye week to take on UNLV tonight, here's what to know about Ashton Jeanty, from where he was born to how fast and strong he is, to his odds to win the Heisman :
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Where is Ashton Jeanty from?
Sep 7, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) breaks a tackle during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Ashton Jeanty was born December 3, 2003, in Jacksonville, Florida. His father, Harry Jeanty, was a Navy officer stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville at the time.
Did Ashton Jeanty play high school football in Florida?
No. Harry Jeanty was assigned to multiple stations during Ashton's childhood, and his family went with him. Ashton Jeanty started making a name for himself playing football for three years at air bases in Italy .
The Jeantys moved to Texas in 2019, where Ashton played at Frisco Lone Star High School . He played all over the field as linebacker, safety and defensive lineman, earning the Defensive Newcomer of the Year award for his district. Jeanty took over as lead running back as a senior in 2021, running for 1,843 yards on 229 carries (an average of 8 yards per carry) and catching 41 passes for 810 yards with a total of 41 touchdowns.
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Ashton Jeanty the latest star Boise State running back
Ashton Jeanty was a three-star recruit in the 247 Sports composite rankings and a two-star recruit at Rivals . He chose Boise State over Army, Navy, Air Force, Cal and New Mexico, among others.
While the college football bluebloods weren't lining up to sign him, Jeanty did wind up at a college well known for producing quality NFL running backs. Doug Martin played seven seasons, most with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , and was an All-Pro in 2015. Jay Ajayi was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2015 and won the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. Boise State alums Alexander Mattison ( Las Vegas Raiders ) and Jeremy McNichols ( Washington Commanders ) are currently playing in the NFL.
How much does Ashton Jeanty squat? How fast is Ashton Jeanty?
Oct 12, 2024; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) leaps over Hawaii Rainbow Warriors defensive back Deliyon Freeman (26) during the second quarter at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. The play was called back due to a Broncos foul. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images
Like Yulee High School great Derrick Henry , Ashton Jeanty has a rare mixture of speed and power. He can squat 605 pounds, according to the Idaho Statesman , and he said he felt like he could have done 700. Jalen Hurts , he of the notorious "Brotherly Shove" (aka the "Tush Push"), famously squatted 600 pounds in college at Alabama, a stat so outlandish that continues to be repeated during Philadelphia Eagles games today.
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As for speed, Jeanty was reportedly clocked at 21.5 mph during fall camp and was measured during Boise State's game against Oregon at 21.2 mph , tied for the fourth-fastest sprint time in college football that week. The Athletic says he's run 22.5 mph during a game. For comparison, Noah Lyles, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics to claim the title of "Fastest Man on Earth," ran 23.17 mph during his record 200-meter race in 2023.
Ashton Jeanty looking to break Barry Sanders college rushing record
Ashton Jeanty made the second-team AP All-America team and was the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 after running for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns, tacking on 569 receiving yards and five more TDs. Those numbers set the stage for his breakout 2024 campaign in which he's nearly surpassed those marks after just six games.
Jeanty is on pace to break the FBS single-season rushing record set by Oklahoma State legend Barry Sanders in 1988. If he keeps up his current pace of 208 yards per game, Jeanty would break the record of 2,628 yards in the Mountain West championship game December 6 (assuming the Broncos qualify).
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Here are the top 10 rushing seasons in FBS history:
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Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State, 1988: 2,628 yards
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Melvin Gordon , Wisconsin, 2014: 2,587
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Kevin Smith, UCF, 2007: 2,567
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Marcus Allen, USC, 1981: 2,342
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Rashaad Penny , San Diego State, 2017: 2,248
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Derrick Henry, Alabama, 2015: 2,219
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Jonathan Taylor , Wisconsin, 2018: 2,194
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Troy Davis, Iowa State, 1996: 2,185
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Andre Williams , Boston College, 2013: 2,177
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LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU, 2000: 2,158
Ashton Jeanty vs Travis Hunter ? Ashton Jeanty Heisman odds
Quarterbacks have won the Heisman Trophy all but four times this century: Reggie Bush in 2005, Mark Ingram in 2009, Derrick Henry in 2015 and DeVonta Smith in 2020. This year has two strong non-QB candidates in Ashton Jeanty and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, who has played nearly every snap for the Buffaloes this season and leads the team with 604 receiving yards and two interceptions.
Hunter talked about the Heisman race last week on Robert Griffin III 's "Outta Pocket with RGIII" podcast, saying: "You all see Ashton Jeanty, but it is not like we haven't seen a good running back that is good. We haven't seen a player that has played both ways, and I'm going to keep saying that. He has, what, 95 carries for 1,000 yards? If I had 95 catches, how much yardage would you think I have?"
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Jeanty responded in an interview with YouTuber Deestroying : "Kudos to Travis, he's balling for real. He's doing some stuff we ain't ever seen nobody do. Personally, I don't take no offense to it. He's just speaking his opinion, everybody's got an opinion. For me, what I've been doing hasn't been done in 36, 37 years, so that's something special. If I keep that up and break a record that's been around for 36 years, I feel like you can't really compete with that."
Here are the Heisman odds according to BetMGM as of Friday, October 25:
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Ashton Jeanty, Boise State RB: +200
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Cam Ward , Miami QB: +240
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Dillon Gabriel , Oregon QB: +400
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Travis Hunter, Colorado WR/CB: +1800
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Cade Klubnik , Clemson QB: +2000
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Carson Beck , Georgia QB: +2500
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Garrett Nussmeier , LSU QB: +2500
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Drew Allar , Penn State QB: +3500
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Jalen Milroe , Alabama QB: +4000
Where to watch Ashton Jeanty: Boise State vs UNLV time, TV schedule, streaming info
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When:8:30 p.m. Friday, October 25
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Where:Sam Boyd Stadium (Whitney, Nevada)
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TV channel:CBS Sports Network
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Streaming: Paramount+ | Fubo
Boise State vs. UNLV will broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network in Week 9 of the 2024 college football season. Rich Waltz and Robert Turbin will call the game from the booth at Wallace Wade Stadium. Streaming options include Fubo , which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ashton Jeanty: Boise State running back born in Jacksonville
