If you’re looking at the stat sheet, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has a resume that’s simply out of this world. So much so that the 21-year-old is expected to be chosen within the top six picks of the 2025 NFL Draft. The New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Las Vegas Raiders all stand as potential landing spots for Jeanty–some say the New York Giants as well, even.
That’s because, on the ground, Jeanty led the entire FBS in: yards (2,287), touchdowns (28), yards after contact (1,695), forced missed tackles (125), 10-plus yard runs (55), 15-plus yard runs (33), and first downs (106) throughout the 2024 regular season alone.
That’s what fans of Ashton Jeanty want you to know. What they don’t want you to know, however, is that he has a dirty secret.
The Boise State superstar plays in the notably weaker Mountain West division; a non-Power Five division in the NCAA. Easy competition, easy stats. It’s no wonder why his statistical achievements are so monumental.
At least, that’s what some fans have convinced themselves of.
In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. And that’s actually no exaggeration, either. Because, against Power Five teams with a defense that ranked top-30 via least points per game allowed in 2024, no singular running back in the entirety of the FBS performed better than Ashton Jeanty. It isn’t particularly close, either.
Even with teammates who play in the same Mountain West division that people try to use to diminish the level of competition Jeanty played against.
Raiders beware: The truth about Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty vs “greater competition”
When Jeanty plays against Power Five teams that rank top-30 via least points per game surrendered, he’s at his best. More so than any other running back across the FBS.
The numbers prove it.
Against schools that fit in the above criteria this past season, Jeanty was one-of-two players to rush for at least 192 yards. More impressively, he totaled more forced missed tackles against a Power Five school that ranked top-10 via least points per contest surrendered than any player totaled in any week against any school, regardless of their opponent’s division or points per game rank.
He posted 100-plus rushing yards during both of his matchups against such schools. He also forced at least eight missed tackles in each contest. Jeanty was that dominant against “greater competition”.
In Week 2, Jeanty faced off against Oregon’s defense, which ended the season as the 16th-best defense via points surrendered on a weekly basis. He rushed for 192 yards with 111 coming after contact while making eight would-be tacklers miss.
This made Jeanty one-of-two players to rush for 100-plus yards against Oregon in 2024, totaling 68 more rushing yards than the other player to do so. The 21-year-old also totaled 21 more yards post-contact than any player to play against Oregon last season. His eight forced missed tackles was four more than any player had vs Oregon this past year as well.
Jeanty was the most productive back against the Ducks in 2024, and it isn’t remotely close, either.
That’s true against Penn State as well; the sixth-best defense in the FBS via least points allowed per contest. Jeanty was the only player to rush for 100-plus yards against the Nittany Lions in 2024. He accomplished this feat by escaping 16 tackles throughout the contest–which, as referenced earlier, is more forced missed tackles than any player in the FBS had in any week last season, regardless of their opponent’s division or defensive rank. Any week, against any school.
Ashton Jeanty is that good of a prospect. Perhaps he’ll be selected by the Raiders at six.
*Top Photo: Loren Orr/Getty Images
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