Boise State’s standout running back, Ashton Jeanty, played a pivotal role in securing the Broncos’ place in the College Football Playoff with an impressive performance on Friday night. His remarkable stats – 32 carries for 209 yards and a touchdown – propelled the team to a decisive 21-7 victory over UNLV in the Mountain West Conference Championship.
Jeanty’s performance adds to a season that many believe qualifies him as a serious contender for the Heisman Trophy. Excluding the upcoming playoff games, his season totals stand at 344 carries, 2,497 rushing yards, an average of 7.3 yards per carry, and 29 touchdowns.
The race for the prestigious Heisman Trophy appears to be predominantly between Jeanty and Colorado’s standout wide receiver/cornerback, Travis Hunter. Following Jeanty’s performance, social media has erupted with support for the Boise State star, with many comparing his season to the best ever achieved by a college running back.
The 2014 season of Melvin Gordon from Wisconsin often comes to mind in discussions of great running back performances. Despite Gordon’s astounding stats, the Heisman that year went to Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. This sentiment was echoed by former Wisconsin player Montee Ball, who remarked that the award lost its credibility when Gordon didn’t win.
As Jeanty’s extraordinary season unfolds, parallels are drawn between his statistics and Gordon’s historic campaign. As fans and analysts analyze their stats, Jeanty’s run has rekindled debates about the Heisman’s selection process, revealing that even outstanding performances can be overshadowed by positional bias.
In summary, Ashton Jeanty’s incredible season and game against UNLV not only solidified his team’s playoff hopes but also reignited conversations about the Heisman Trophy’s fairness in rewarding exceptional performances by running backs. With the College Football Playoff on the horizon, Jeanty still has an opportunity to bolster his case further and potentially change the narrative surrounding the award.
This situation is a reminder of the enduring debates surrounding sports awards and recognition, illustrating how performance on the field frequently clashes with historical narratives and biases. It highlights the need for ongoing discussions about how achievements are celebrated in college athletics, and there’s hope that the right recognition will eventually come for deserving athletes like Jeanty.