STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Throughout the season, players at Penn State have witnessed the electrifying performance of Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, as he has consistently left defenders unable to keep up with his exceptional skills. As the Nittany Lions prepare to face Jeanty and the Broncos in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal Fiesta Bowl, scheduled for December 31, they recognize that containing Jeanty will be their toughest challenge yet.
“He’s a remarkable player, and in any other year, he would definitely be in the spotlight for the Heisman Trophy,” said Penn State head coach James Franklin. “There’s a strong argument that he could have claimed it this season. Jeanty is extremely difficult to tackle. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches, he combines speed with an ability to elude or outrun defenders.”
This season, Jeanty topped the charts in the nation with an astounding 2,497 rushing yards from 344 carries and recorded 30 touchdowns, a feat not seen since Najee Harris achieved the same number with Alabama in 2020. His performance has been nothing short of historic, as Jeanty amassed 1,889 yards after contact — a statistic that surpasses the total rushing yardage of any FBS running back since Chuba Hubbard led the NCAA with 2,094 rushing yards in 2019. He also earned an NCAA record by forcing 143 missed tackles throughout the season.
Surprisingly, these impressive achievements came while Jeanty played behind an offensive line that has faced challenges due to injuries, with only left tackle Kage Casey and left guard Ben Dooley starting every game this season.
“His ability to produce on the field while remaining durable is incredible,” Franklin stated. “He is seldom hit cleanly, and that’s a testament to his talent. But the most striking statistic is those yards gained after making contact.”
Jeanty may face his most significant contest yet against the Nittany Lions. Although the Broncos have averaged 250 rushing yards per game, ranking fifth among FBS teams, Penn State’s defensive unit is exceptionally prepared for the task at hand. The Nittany Lions currently sit seventh in the nation, allowing just 100 rushing yards per game, and have consistently tightened their defense down the final stretch of the season. Over the last six games, Penn State has given up an average of only 2.7 yards per rush, surrendering just three rushing touchdowns — two of which occurred during the Big Ten Championship against the top-ranked Oregon team.
“The defense has been stellar all year,” Penn State quarterback Drew Allar noted. “Going against them in practice has significantly improved my game. I’m grateful to face the best defense in the country every day rather than during game time.”
In their opening match of the CFP, Penn State limited SMU to a mere 58 rushing yards on 36 attempts, with the Nittany Lions achieving 11 of their 50 tackles for loss during those final six games against the Mustangs.
Much of this defensive prowess stems from a robust defensive line that seamlessly rotates run-stopping tackles Zane Durant, Dvon J-Thomas, and Coziah Izzard alongside dynamic ends Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton. Carter alone recorded 21.5 tackles of his team’s total for losses, totaling 102 stops behind the line of scrimmage this season.
Hoping to keep Jeanty from adding to his highlight reel, Carter expressed just how passionate he is about the game. “I’m living my dream right now,” he shared. “I’ve been playing since I was eight years old, and this is the most enjoyable experience I’ve ever had on the field. I’m grateful for this opportunity, and I intend to make the most of every chance that comes my way.”
