Is Ashton Jeanty The Best Running Back In NCAA History?
When the final whistle blew, signifying the end of a 62-30 blowout win for Boise State, the team's running back Ashton Jeanty had carried the ball 13 times for 186 yards and three touchdowns. It was the latest mind-blowing performance in what is on pace to be a historic season. Through five games this year, Jeanty has 95 carries for 1,031 yards and 16 touchdowns.
That's an average of 10.9 yards per carry, and no player in NCAA history (at least dating back to 1957) has ever averaged 10+ yards per carry and run for 1,000+ yards. With seven games remaining, Jeanty is on pace for 228 carries, 2,485 yards, and 38 touchdowns. This would be the fourth most yards in a season and break Barry Sanders's record for the most rushing touchdowns in a season (set in 1988).
Ashton Jeanty Path To History
As a senior for Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas, Jeanty ran for 1,843 yards and 41 touchdowns in just his senior season. He was ranked as the 200th best prospect in the state according to ESPN, who also gave him a grade of 74 and 3 stars. Despite receiving offers from Cal and Kansas, he chose to sign with the Boise State Broncos.
His freshman year, Jeanty carried the ball 156 times for 821 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and 7 touchdowns. Last season he was the MWC Offensive Player of the Year, totaling 1,347 yards on 220 carries (6.1 yards per carry), and scoring 14 touchdowns. As of today, he is currently ranked first in the NCAA in rushing yards, yards per attempt, rushing touchdowns, yards from scrimmage, and points scored.
Ashton Jeanty Draft Profile
The rule of thumb that should always be followed is "Never draft a running back in the first round." This is because, based on what they do at the pro level, there isn't much discrepancy between a first-round back and a fifth-round back. This won't stop teams from foolishly breaking that rule, so the possibility exists that Jeanty could hear his name called on day one of the 2025 NFL Draft.
CBS Sports has him going 24th overall to the Dallas Cowboys in their most recent mock draft. Pro Football Focus has him going insanely high to the Los Angeles Chargers, with pick number 12. It may come down to his 40-yard dash, as history has proven that NFL execs like guys who are fast in spandex more than they like guys who produce in pads.
How his story ends is impossible to predict, but Ashton Jeanty is surely captivating. He's definitely worth checking out this season. The Broncos' next game is Saturday, October 12th at 11 pm against Hawaii.