Joel Klatt makes case for Ashton Jeanty to win Heisman Trophy

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has been on an absolute tear this season, and he’s doing things that virtually no one would have expected going into the season.

FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt highlighted that this week on The Joel Klatt Show.

“What if I were to tell you before the season that a Group of Five player is going to win the Heisman Trophy? What would you say?” Klatt said. “No way, that’s not going to happen. No way. Guess what? Totally possible because Ashton Jeanty is now the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.”

The talented 5-foot-9, 215-pound prospect from Jacksonville, Fla., has essentially been the offense for Boise State. And with as well as he’s playing, the Broncos have been perfectly fine with that.

Ashton Jeanty, the game-breaking back, has helped lead Boise State to a 4-1 start, with the lone loss a competitive 37-34 defeat at the hands of No. 7 Oregon.

Then you look at the numbers…

“He’s averaging 206 rushing yards per game. He’s got 16 touchdowns in five games. Staggering,” Klatt said. “That is a staggering amount. And oh by the way, he’s running it for almost 11 yards per carry. I mean, like, it’s insane. Have you guys watched him at all? Please go watch Ashton Jeanty. It is an absolute joy. He runs with power. He’s ferocious. He’s fast. He’s got great balance. He did it against Oregon. He’s been doing it against everybody. 206 per game! 16 tugs! I mean Deuce is running loose, man.”

Klatt spent a minute or two breaking down the kind of pace Ashton Jeanty is on and what he might have to do to win the Heisman. It’s a whole lot, to be sure.

But so far all he’s done is produce.

“This guy is everything that you want,” Klatt said. “He is an NFL back, through and through. And at this point, like, again, odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. Now, he’s currently on pace to break Barry Sanders‘ single-season record. That happened in 1998. If you don’t know what that record is, it’s ridiculous. Barry ran for 2,628 yards in 11 games. That’s bonkers, by the way. Absolutely wild. Jeanty’s pace is right now 2,681. Granted, that would happen in 13 games.

“I do believe that he has to not only come close but maybe even beat Barry’s record, which he’s on pace to do, granted through 13 when Barry did it in 11. He’s got to do something that’s like historically special, I think, for a lot of voters to get over the fact that he’s doing it against a Group of Five schedule. And to be honest, I think that that’s fair.”

Regardless whether Ashton Jeanty can keep up his pace, what he is doing right now is almost unprecedented in the sport. There are very few who have hit these kind of numbers.

And that puts you firmly in the Heisman Trophy running.

“He is doing something historic right now. And this guy is, I mean he’s incredible,” Klatt said. “He definitely has to pass up — Melvin Gordon ran for like 2,500 yards a few years ago, did not win the Heisman Trophy. That was when Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy.

“I would have a hard time giving Ashton Jeanty the Heisman unless he outrushed Melvin Gordon, and candidly probably needs to outrush Barry Sanders, who did that in 11 games, in order for me to get over that Group of Five schedule.”