Ashton Jeanty always does his best to at least succeed the Heisman race a conversation.
The Boise State running back crossed the 2,000-yard rushing threshold Saturday against Wyoming. He is the first running back to reach this milestone since 2019, when four players did so: Chuba Hubbard, Malcolm Perry, JK Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor.
He got there in the third quarter, breaking a tackle for a few more yards.
Reaching 2,000 yards is important to Jeanty for reasons beyond wins, accolades and NFL stock. He made a preseason bet with his offensive line that he would cut off his dreadlocks if he didn’t reach the double millennium milestone. It was a bold gamble for a player who had rushed for 1,437 yards the previous season, but that confidence was clearly justified.
In case you opened Ashton Jeanty’s article because you wanted to see a home run rather than a five-yard gain, Jeanty had one in the first quarter.
The junior had a 61-yard run to take the lead, using a hole just big enough to find plenty of space at the second level.
Unfortunately, Jeanty was unable to do much after reaching 2,000. Later in the third quarter, he suffered a hard tackle to his legs and experienced significant pain after the play. He was able to limp off the field and entered the injury tent, returning to the sideline in the fourth quarter.
Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson later described Jeanty as “struck“.
The injury was untimely for No. 12 Boise State, which was tied 10-10 with Wyoming’s 2-8 when Jeanty left the game.
