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After his draft stock soared thanks to a once-in-a-generation season, Ashton Jeanty turns professional.
The Boise State running back, fresh off the cusp of rewriting the record books, announced he will declare for the NFL draft.
“The opportunity to play in the NFL is a dream of mine, and I am proud to represent Boise State and everyone who has helped me along my journey to the next level,” Jeanty wrote in a post on the social networks.
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Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Laramie, Wyo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
As a sophomore in 2023, Jeanty rushed for 1,347 yards – last season he nearly doubled that number.
Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards, 28 fewer than Barry Sanders for the most in a college season. His epic campaign, however, placed him second on the all-time list, as he outscored Melvin Gordon and Kevin Smith in his only College Football Playoff game against a strong Penn State defense.
Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) is interviewed by Fox Sports reporter Allison Williams after the game against the UNLV Rebels at Albertsons Stadium on December 6, 2024. (Brian Losness-Imagn Images)
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Jeanty’s performance propelled the Broncos to win the Mountain West and earn a bye to the CFP quarterfinals. However, Jeanty ran for just a season-low 104 yards as the Nittany Lions advanced to the semifinals. Entering the Fiesta Bowl, Jeanty had rushed for over 125 yards in each of his previous 13 games this season.
The running back appears to be a first-round pick this season, and it’s hard to see why he wouldn’t be. The 2024 season saw a revitalization of the running back position, and Jeanty is undoubtedly the best on the board this year.
It’s pretty rare to see running backs taken in the first round, although there have been two such cases in 2023 – but then again, with his skill set and how the position has regained its value this year , some of Jeanty’s mock projects were chosen among teenagers.
Running back Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the UCF Knights at Albertsons Stadium on September 9, 2023 in Boise, Idaho. (Loren Orr/Getty Images)
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Jeanty finished in second place in the Heisman Trophy voting, falling to Travis Hunter in the closest vote since 2009.
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