The 2024 Heisman finalists were announced Monday night, and Boise State Broncos star Ashton Jeanty is one of four players invited to Saturday’s award presentation in New York.
Why should a running back from Boise State, of all places, win the Heisman Trophy? What are Jeanty’s realistic chances of receiving the most coveted individual award in college football?
Why Should Ashton Jeanty Win the Heisman Trophy?
Jeanty may only be a recent household name for the average college football fan, but his stardom hardly surprised the coaching staff at Boise State.
Jeanty was one of the highest-rated recruits to ever commit to the Broncos. The four-star from Frisco, Texas, chose Boise State over offers from Power Four schools and immediately ran for 800 yards as a true freshman and 1,300 yards as a sophomore.
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But his junior season has been truly special. Jeanty has rushed for 2,497 yards this season, the second-most before a bowl game in the sport’s history behind Barry Sanders’ incredible 1988 Heisman-winning season.
The raw stats don’t tell the whole story. Jeanty’s five 70-plus-yard touchdown runs are tied for the most in a single season with former TCU Horned Frogs superstar LaDainian Tomlinson. He has averaged nearly 5.5 yards per carry after contact this season.
Heanty has also run for over 1,300 yards against 8-man boxes this year, averaging nearly 10 yards a carry when defenses crowd the line of scrimmage.
His 5.48 yards per carry after contact are the best in the country. Among backs with over 100 carries, he’s best by nearly a yard per carry after contact. He’s also forced 134 missed tackles, 36 more than any other runner. He has the most carries of at least 10 and 15 yards. He sat out multiple second halves and ran for over 150 yards.
Jeanty has run for at least 149 yards in all but two games, averaging 11.5 yards a touch in his lowest raw yardage outing of the season. He’s tied for the national lead in touchdowns with Army Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily, and if you look at any statistical category, he will be at the top.
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And he’s done all of it while opponents do everything in their power to stop him, often at the expense of allowing other players to succeed.
Jeanty has helped lead Group of Five Boise State not only to the College Football Playoff, but to the third seed, getting a first-round bye ahead of both the Big 12 and ACC Champions.
With an average outing in his first College Football Playoff game, he’ll have the highest official single-season rushing total in the history of college football (though Barry Sanders’ bowl game doesn’t officially count).
Jeanty will be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and should be considered the most dominant college running back of the 21st century.
And yet, the Boise State running back is unlikely to win the Heisman Trophy. Colorado Buffaloes star Travis Hunter has done things that the sport has never seen before, playing a mind-boggling number of snaps on both sides of the ball.
But honestly, if I had a Heisman Trophy vote, it would go to Jeanty. Even if he loses, we shouldn’t forget what the Boise State standout has done in 2024. Given the context, it could be considered the greatest season ever for a college running back.
That’s why Jeanty should win the Heisman.
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