Ashton Jeanty, a running back for Boise State, wasn’t always a football fan. He grew up adoring basketball player LeBron James as he watched him play for Miami Heat during his childhood in Florida. However, it wasn’t long before he found his own sporting prowess in football. Jeanty may not have taken home the Heisman Trophy, losing out to Colorado’s Travis Hunter, but he did establish himself as a remarkable player by coming in a close second, scooping the Maxwell Award, the Doak Walker Award, and unanimous All-American honors. Now, Jeanty is approaching another milestone, he is 131 yards away from breaking the official single-season record of college football that was set by Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders in 1988.
Jeanty’s achievements didn’t go unnoticed by Sanders himself, who tweeted a message of support to the burgeoning player. Jeanty’s impressive list of accomplishments doesn’t end there, having outrushed 115 FBS teams single-handedly this season. His performance has captivated fans and fellow players, his former teammate Alexander Mattison, now playing in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders, speaks highly of Jeanty’s skill set and character on and off the field.
Following in the successful footsteps of Boise State’s lineage of remarkable running backs, Jeanty managed to surpass Cedric Minter as the program’s all-time leading rusher this season. He also shattered numerous other records, held by Minter since at least 1980. Jeanty’s legacy sits among an elite list of players, including former quarterback Kellen Moore, who holds the title for the winningest QB in FBS history, and was the program’s only other Heisman finalist.
Boise State’s coach, Spencer Danielson, champions Jeanty’s commitment to the team’s progress. Sharing that Jeanty regularly attends leadership council meetings and shows a keen interest in the wellbeing and performance of his teammates which sets him apart. Jeanty’s impressive drive extends to his personal ambitions too. Upon his return to Boise State this season, he vocalized his goal of winning individual accolades and awards, demonstrating his desire for continuous success.
Outside his sporting achievements, Jeanty’s commitment to legacy building is evident. Displaying a sense of responsibility towards improving the team’s culture and assisting future Boise State athletes, Jeanty established the Ashton Jeanty Endowed Scholarship for Football. The scholarship fund has raised over $180,000 of the $200,000 goal to date. Jeanty is highly respected amongst his peers and fans, with the latter often requesting autographs and photos, leading the athletic director, Jeramiah Dickey, to arrange security to manage the attention he garners.
Still, Jeanty’s greatest achievement may not be his noteworthy athletic performance or college football’s official single-season record within reach. He believes that his greatest accomplishment is the influence and the lasting impact he’s made on his fellow teammates and the Boise State community. He said: “People won’t remember the stats, they’re not going to remember the games. But they’re going to remember how I treated people, how I carried myself throughout my time here and the impact that had.”
