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What is the one Ashton Jeanty stat Penn State is focused on most ahead of its meeting with Boise State?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•12/30/24•

GregPickel

ashton jeanty (3)
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The talking portion of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal round matchup between Penn State and Boise State is over. Many words have been uttered by both sides between last Monday, when both head coaches held their initial news conference of game week, and today, when James Franklin and Spencer Danielson held their final one before a 7:30 p.m. Fiesta Bowl kickoff at State Farm Stadium. Unsurprisingly, much of the conversation has focused on Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty, the star Broncos running back. His stats are absurd. The Jacksonville, Fla., native leads the country in rushing yards (2,497) and rushing touchdowns (29). He is also 15th in yards per carry with 7.26. A multi-threat weapon, he also has 20 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.

All of those numbers are impressive. But, there is another figure that the Nittany Lions are focused on this week: Yards after contact. Jeanty has gained 1,889 yards, or 75 percent of his total, after first being struck by a defender. It is an absurd stat, and one Franklin and co., are well aware of heading into Tuesday night.

“I’ve talked all week long about the craziest that I’ve ever heard of, 1,900 yards after contact,” Franklin said Monday morning. “So it’s impressive. But obviously, most importantly, they’re in this position because they got a great team. He’s a focus point, but they got a great team.”

Penn State is certainly focused on Jeanty, though

Franklin correctly pointed out that the Broncos are in this position for reasons that extend beyond their star tailback. But, there is no question that he is the main reason why they are Mountain West Conference champions and the three seed in the inaugural 12-team Playoff. He, and Boise State, have had the attention of Penn State players and coaches all week.

“Well, I think the first thing that we all try to do as coaches is you’re trying to figure out who are the issues in the game? Or, what are the issues in the game? And then, how can you limit their impacts? Obviously, a running back like him, everybody, all year long, has gone in it with the same plan. No one’s stopped him,” Franklin said. “But I think that’s where you got to start. Whether you’re a defensive guy and you’re trying to make people one dimensional. Or, you’re an offensive guy and you’re trying to make a team play in a style that they don’t want to play in. That’s what we all try to do. That’s kind of where it starts.

“But I think the running back position, just like the quarterback position, they get a ton of credit, and deservedly so. He’s earned that. But Ashton will tell you, just like every other running back, if you don’t have an offensive line in front of you, if you don’t have a great offensive coordinator that’s calling the plays and taking advantage of your skill set, then[he would] not [be] nearly as successful as he is right now.”

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