Whether he wins the Heisman or not, 2024 has been a legendary year for Boise State Broncos’ Ashton Jeanty. From comparisons to previous Heisman-winning running backs and hall of fame running backs to conference and school records, Ashton Jeanty has been all over the media. Everyone is abuzz with draft rumors and Heisman hopes.
But in recent weeks, Jeanty’s rush average has gone down and defenses have seemed to hold him in check, causing his Heisman hopes to tumble. Many are beginning to wonder if he’s for real or if he’s just a product of the Mountain West Conference or perhaps of the Dirk Koetter-led offense.
What Do the Numbers Say About Ashton Jeanty’s Legitimacy?
Missed Tackles Forced and Yards After Contact
Perhaps the greatest strength of #2 is his ability to break through tackles. Not only does it strike fear into defenses but it wears them down. Just watch Boise State’s game against UNLV. The Rebels had Jeanty pretty well bottled up for the first quarter or two, but he wore them down and ended up still having a good game. But let’s look at the stats. According to PFF, Jeanty has forced 93 missed tackles, good for 23 more than the next running back. He also has 1260 yards after contact (as of 11/14). That means that of his 1,734 rush yards (excluding the 159 against San Jose St.), 72% have come after contact.
Success Against Stacked Boxes
Obviously it takes more than one defender to takedown the #HEI2MAN. But how many players does it take? Well, watch the film from the BSU vs. SDSU game. Teams are pretty much focusing completely on the run. They are using almost their entire defense to stop Jeanty. Don’t believe me? Watch the film from when the Broncos played San Diego State. Still don’t believe me? Here are the stats:
- Jeanty vs. six defenders in the box: 7.2 yds/rush on 50 carries
- Jeanty vs. seven defenders in the box: 10.2 yds/rush on 86 carries
- Jeanty vs. eight defenders in the box: 7.9 yds/rush on 48 carries
- Jeanty vs. nine or more in the box: 2.2 yds/rush on 23 carries
Nine or more. That’s how many players it takes to stop Jeanty. NINE. Unfortunately for him, his team’s passing game struggles with the drops (outside of the San Diego game). That’s why defenses can focus on the run. Oh, and this is with playing behind a beat up offensive line. What could this guy do if he played on a more well-rounded team?
Also read: NFL Fans Erupt Over Heisman Hopeful Ashton Jeanty’s ‘Perfect’ NFL Landing Spot
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