Heisman Watch: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty is off to an absurd start to the season

The days of running backs regularly winning the Heisman Trophy are long gone.

Ten Heismans were won by running backs in the 1980s and 1990s. In the 24 years since, just three running backs have won the award: Reggie Bush in 2005, Mark Ingram in 2009 and Derrick Henry in 2015.

The Heisman has become an award dominated by quarterbacks as DeVonta Smith is the only other non-QB to win since Wisconsin RB Ron Dayne won in 1999.

Simply put, it’s extremely unlikely the Heisman Trophy will be won by a non-QB in 2024. And that QB will come from a power conference school. But if there’s a player at another position who is going to win the award in 2024, the best early season candidate comes from a team looking to crash the College Football Playoff party.

Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty has put up an absolutely absurd stat line so far this season. In Week 1, Jeanty ran like he was playing the College Football 25 video game on the easiest difficulty setting. In a win over Georgia Southern, Jeanty had 20 carries for 267 yards and six touchdowns.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has made a name for himself in the first two weeks of the college football season. Will he stay in the Heisman race throughout the season? (Dillon Minshall/Yahoo Sports illustration)

Oregon was a much tougher opponent in Week 2, and Jeanty still put up ridiculous numbers. He rushed 25 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns against the Ducks as Oregon needed a very late field goal to beat the Broncos, 37-34.

Jeanty’s nine touchdowns this season are by far the most of any skill position player in college football. UCF’s R.J. Harvey has scored six TDs through two games this season and no other player has more than five. Just 16 players across all of college football have scored more than three rushing and receiving touchdowns.

The junior may be the best…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-11 13:00:24

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