Ashton Jeanty nearly captured the 2024 Heisman Trophy after putting up incredible numbers in his final season with the Boise State Broncos.
Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards, nearly eclipsing Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards for the former Oklahoma State standout. He also had 29 rushing touchdowns. The former Broncos running back had 4,769 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns in 40 career games.
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Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty after the Fiesta Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on December 31, 2024. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
He accomplished the feat in the midst of college athletics’ name, image and likeness era. The better a college athlete plays on the field, the more money that may be available to him through NIL deals. Jeanty’s NIL rating was estimated at $1.6 million according to On3 Sports.
Jeanty had NIL deals with SAXX underwear and the Boise Hawks minor league baseball team. But he made it clear to anyone coming out of high school expecting to get paid that they should really focus on their craft on the field rather than the money that comes with it.
“No. 1, don’t chase the bag,” he told Pakinomist Digital when asked if he had any advice for high school athletes entering the college game. “Chase your goals and dreams. Everyone seems to get away from it. I had a dream to be an NFL player three years ago, one of the best running backs. And I’m going here because I didn’t chase the bag There were plenty of guys I’ve seen get more money than me that I know wasn’t better than me where I want to be.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty will start on November 23, 2024 in Laramie, Wyoming. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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“You have to trust the process, because you can’t expect all that. No right. You have to earn it. That’s the problem today. You might have done something in high school, but when you get to college, it doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t matter how many stars you got – none of that, I’ve seen three stars that were really good, but the common thing is just work ethic and staying focused on the goal.”
Jeanty said the NIL in college football is kind of the “wild, wild west,” so he had to take a professional mindset when navigating those murky waters.
“I think my whole approach was just to be a professional with it,” he added. “Obviously, at the next level, I want to get paid, but I’m not looking for the biggest payday. Honestly, I need a little something, you know what I’m saying? My morals and values—that’s no. 1. Wherever I can adapt it best, that’s where I want to be.”
Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty of Boise State speaks during a college football media available on Dec. 13, 2024 in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Jeanty declared for the NFL Draft earlier this month. He is expected to be one of the first running backs off the board.
