SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The inspiring journey of Ashton Jeanty has taken him from the depths of an Italian volcano to the prestigious Heisman Trophy stage in New York City. Being the child of a Navy chief petty officer led Jeanty to experience a nomadic childhood, with his formative football years spent at a base located amidst the tranquil fields outside Naples, Italy. Competing against teams from other military bases demanded arduous travel, including grueling 18-hour bus rides to Germany. However, these early challenges were fundamental in molding both the individual and player he is today—now known as Boise State’s standout running back.

“We discuss the importance of adaptability in life, and that’s essentially what life is,” Jeanty reflected during the Fiesta Bowl media day. “Navigating change truly represents one of humanity’s toughest challenges. My time overseas provided me with invaluable experiences and the ability to cope with various forms of change.”

Jeanty’s remarkable trajectory has played a pivotal role in guiding Boise State into the College Football Playoff (CFP) for the very first time. Their ascent can be traced back to their captivating performance at the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Now, as the third-seeded Broncos prepare to vie against No. 6 seed Penn State in the CFP quarterfinals, all eyes will be on the Nittany Lions to see if they can effectively contain Jeanty.

To this point, no team has managed to rein him in during what is being heralded as one of the most remarkable seasons for a running back in the annals of college football. With just 132 rushing yards needed to eclipse Barry Sanders’ long-standing single-season NCAA record of 2,628 yards, Jeanty heads into the Fiesta Bowl with 2,497 rushing yards to date. This astonishing total surpasses that of over 115 FBS teams, and he has notched at least 200 rushing yards in six separate games, boasting a peak performance of 267 yards in the opening game against Georgia Southern. He averages an impressive 192 rushing yards per outing and leads the nation with a staggering 30 touchdowns.

Jeanty has been recognized as a unanimous All-American, capturing both the Maxwell and Doak Walker awards, and finished a close second in the Heisman Trophy race—narrowly trailing Colorado’s Travis Hunter in what was one of the tightest votes since 2009.

“Everything revolves around Jeanty,” stated Penn State head coach James Franklin. “In any other season, he would have undoubtedly won the Heisman Trophy, and you could certainly argue he deserved it this year.”

This means that the Nittany Lions are preparing for a formidable challenge—one that could leave them empty-handed if Jeanty has his way. Standing at 5-foot-9 and weighing 215 pounds, this junior possesses the agility of a ballerina coupled with the robust physique of a bulldog. His combination of speed and finesse often leaves defenders grasping at air as he adeptly evades tackles. Jeanty’s power transitions the field into a display of knocked-down defenders, who are left to see nothing but the back of his No. 8 jersey sprinting toward the end zone.

You can hit Jeanty hard, but that might not suffice; he has an uncanny ability to bounce back swiftly, much like a child’s inflatable toy. This distinctive combination of attributes has enabled Jeanty to force an NCAA-record 143 missed tackles and accumulate an astonishing 1,889 yards after contact.