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Ashton Jeanty Might Have Jinxed His Heisman Trophy Chances
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12/14/2024 07:54 PM
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is a Heisman finalist on Saturday night, and for good reason. The dynamic back has put up video game numbers, leading the Broncos to a Mountain West title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
After Jeanty's incredible season, many expect either him or Colorado star Travis Hunter to win the Heisman this season. Jeanty is certainly a deserving candidate, but he may have sealed his fate with a pre-ceremony comment.
After he was asked how he spent Friday night, Jeanty admitted that he may have celebrated a bit early with some preparation before the big day.
Boise State's Ashton Jeanty says he spent last night practicing his Heisman Trophy speech:
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 15, 2024
"I practiced my speech last night to make sure I'm ready when I get up there."
😬😬😬pic.twitter.com/feT8WJeRgY
"I practiced my speech last night to make sure I'm ready when I get up there," he said after noting that he spent time with his family on Friday night in New York City.
If Jeanty is selected as the Heisman winner, he would be the first running back to win since Derrick Henry in 2015.
The award has been dominated by quarterbacks over the last decade, with Alabama's DeVonta Smith breaking a streak of four straight wins by quarterbacks, only for three more to win it over the next few years.
Hunter would be the first two-way player to win since Charles Woodson in 1997, who remains the only defensive player to ever win. Hunter and Jeanty have split some of the bigger non-Heisman awards this season, with the Colorado player taking the Bednarik, Biletnikoff and Walter Camp while Jeanty won the Maxwell.
As predicted, Jeanty also won the Doak Walker award as the nation's best running backs.
Jeanty ran for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns this year, both numbers that led the nation. He's only 131 yards away from the single-season NCAA rushing record, which was set by Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders in 1988.
Sanders won the Heisman trophy that year, and Jeanty would likely be the overwhelming favorite in any other year, but Hunter is a once-in-a-generation player doing things football fans haven't seen in decades.
We'll see which player wins the award on Saturday night, but there's really no wrong choice between the two of them.
After the Heisman winner is decided, Jeanty will be paying close attention to next week's game between SMU and Penn State to find out who the Boise State Broncos will take on in the Fiesta Bowl.
Related: Fans Loved The Heisman Trophy Finalists' Outfits Tonight