By Ty Scheiner
I get it—it’s only Week 1, and there’s an entire season ahead of us. However, Ashton Jeanty deserves serious consideration for the Heisman watch if he maintains this level of production. I understand the challenges: A) The award has largely become a de facto QB honor, with only three running backs winning it since 2000 (Reggie Bush in 2005, Mark Ingram in 2009, and Derrick Henry in 2019). B) He plays in a lower-tier conference, and the last G5 player to win the Heisman Trophy was Ty Detmer at BYU in 1990. Still, Jeanty is making a case for himself.
Jeanty’s stats from last Saturday’s game are eye-popping: six touchdowns, 267 rushing yards, and an average of 13.3 yards per carry. These aren’t video game numbers—they’re real stats that led Boise State to a high-scoring victory over Georgia Southern. His six touchdowns set a school record and tied a Mountain West record, while his 267 rushing yards marked a career-best. Four of these touchdowns came before halftime!
Even though the Heisman is a personal accolade, Jeanty’s humility shines through. Postgame, he acknowledges his offensive line’s crucial role in his success . “I’ve got to shout out my O-line,” Jeanty said. “They opened up big, wide holes all game. I’ve got the easy part: make some guys miss and run to the end zone.” With Sire Gaines , a true freshman to keep an eye on , also rushing for over 100 yards on ten carries, it’s scary to consider how much more Jeanty could have achieved if he didn’t share carries.