After his draft stock skyrocketed thanks to a once-in-a-generation season, Ashton Jeanty is turning pro.
The Boise State running back, who just came close to rewriting the record books, has announced that 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 all those who have helped me along the way to the next level,” Jeanty wrote in a social media post.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Laramie, Wyoming. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
As a sophomore in 2023, Jeanty rushed for 1,347 yards; last season, he almost doubled that number.
Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards, 28 shy of passing Barry Sanders for the most in a college season. However, his epic campaign placed him second on the all-time list as he bested Melvin Gordon and Kevin Smith during his only College Football Playoff game against a stout 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)
DEION SANDERS GIVES 1 WORD REACTION TO TITANS FIRING GENERAL MANAGER AS SON SHEDEUR COULD BE THE BEST PICK
Jeanty’s performance propelled the Broncos to win the Mountain West and earn a bye to the CFP quarterfinals. However, Jeanty rushed for just 104 yards, his lowest of the season, 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 of the season.
The running back figures 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 were two such cases in 2023, but again, with his skills and how the position regained its value this year, some Jeanty mock drafts were picked in the teens.
Running back Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos celebrates a touchdown during first half action against the UCF Knights at Albertsons Stadium on September 9, 2023 in Boise, Idaho. (Loren Orr/Getty Images)
Jeanty finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, falling to Travis Hunter in the closest vote since 2009.
