Ashton Jeanty is still trying his best to at least make the Heisman race a conversation.
The Boise State running back topped the 2,000-yard mark Saturday against Wyoming. He is the first running back to reach the mark since 2019, when four players did it: Chuba Hubbard, Malcolm Perry, JK Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor.
He got there in the third quarter, broke tackles for some extra yardage.
Reaching 2,000 yards is significant for Jeanty for reasons other than wins, awards and NFL action. He made a preseason bet with his offensive line that if he didn’t reach the double-millennium mark, he would cut off his dreadlocks. It was a bold gamble for a player who passed for 1,437 yards last season, but the confidence was clearly justified.
In case you opened the Ashton Jeanty article because you wanted to see a home run rather than a powerful five-yard gain, Jeanty had one in the first quarter.
The junior ripped off a 61-yard run to take the lead, using a hole big enough to find open space on the second level.
Unfortunately, Jeanty had to take a significant break after reaching 2,000. He hit his legs hard later in the third quarter and was in significant pain after the game. He was able to limp off the field and entered the injured tent, returning to the game in the fourth quarter.
Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson later described Jeanty as “he slammed.”
The injury was ill-timed for No. 12 Boise State, which was tied 10-10 with 2-8 Wyoming when Jeanty left the game.