Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty named Heisman Trophy finalist

Jeanty is Boise State’s first Heisman finalist since Kellen Moore

Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty. / Brian Losness-Imagn Images

Boise State junior running back Ashton Jeanty is officially a Heisman Trophy finalist. 

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Jeanty were all named finalists for the award on Monday. 

The Heisman Trophy ceremony will be held this weekend in New York City. The ESPN telecast of the event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Mountain time Saturday. 

Jeanty is Boise State’s first Heisman Trophy finalist since legendary quarterback Kellen Moore. In 2010, Moore placed fourth in the Heisman voting behind Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and Oregon running back LaMichael James.

The 5-foot-9, 215-pound Jeanty is the nation’s leader in most rushing categories, including carries (344), yards (2,497) and touchdowns (29). He ranks fourth on the FBS all-time single-season rushing list, trailing only Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders (2,628 yards, 1988 season), Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (2,587, 2014) and UCF’s Kevin Smith (2,567, 2007). 

Jeanty will need 132 yards in the College Football Playoff to break Barry Sanders’ record. The Broncos (12-1), seeded third by the CFP committee, will take on the winner of a first-round matchup between No. 11 SMU (11-2) and No. 6 Penn State (11-2) in the Fiesta Bowl.  

Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson had one message for the 870 Heisman Trophy voters during his Sunday press conference: watch the film.

“Because I truly believe when all these voters do that, I don’t think it should be close,” Danielson said. “I know I’m biased, I’m around him every day. But for what he’s done personally, what he’s willed our team to do as our top leader, winning a championship. … The individual stats that he’s racked up across the way. 

“My shout out to everybody is just ‘Please watch the film.’ Watch his film, watch his body of work. Find out more about who he is as a young man, because guys like Ashton Jeanty are phenomenal for college football.”

Hunter has 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns with four interceptions on defense during his junior season.

The 23rd-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) are set to face No. 17 BYU (10-2) in a Big 12 vs. Big 12 Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders will play in the bowl game.

In the latest FanDuel Heisman Trophy odds, Hunter is the favorite at -4000. Jeanty sits in second at +1100.

MORE BOISE STATE NEWS & ANALYSIS

• College Football Playoff: Easy draw for Penn State? Boise State may feel the same

• Heisman Trophy odds: Ashton Jeanty closes gap on Travis Hunter

• What Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, Spencer Danielson said after clinching College Football Playoff berth

• Boise State coach Spencer Danielson: Several Broncos ‘are getting illegally recruited to get in the portal’

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