{"id":41650,"date":"2024-12-09T10:48:33","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T15:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=41650"},"modified":"2024-12-09T10:48:33","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T15:48:33","slug":"heisman-hopeful-ashton-jeanty-credits-god-as-boise-state-wins-mountain-west-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2024\/12\/heisman-hopeful-ashton-jeanty-credits-god-as-boise-state-wins-mountain-west-title.html","title":{"rendered":"Heisman Hopeful Ashton Jeanty Credits God as Boise State Wins Mountain West Title"},"content":{"rendered":"
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JL 2.8 \/ Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty capped off a stellar college football season by leading the Broncos to a Mountain West Championship and securing their spot in the College Football Playoffs. But for the Heisman Trophy hopeful, the glory wasn’t about personal accolades or NFL prospects\u2014it was about giving thanks to God.<\/p>\n

In Friday night’s 21-7 victory over UNLV, Jeanty ran for a stunning 209 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown, bringing his season total to 2,497 yards\u2014just 132 yards shy of the all-time FBS record. Yet, his post-game interview wasn’t filled with talk of records or his NFL future. Instead, Jeanty pointed skyward, reflecting on his faith.<\/p>\n

“First of all, I’ve got to thank God,” Jeanty told FOX Sports on the field. “The way He’s been moving through this team and blessing us\u2014God’s favor is over us.”<\/p>\n

Jeanty, who confirmed this would be his final game in a Boise State uniform before declaring for the NFL Draft, has been vocal throughout the season about his Christian faith and how it has shaped his life on and off the field.<\/p>\n

“I like to say that I’m a Christian cleverly disguised as an All-American running back,” Jeanty shared in an earlier interview. “God has blessed me with amazing talents. I’ve been able to do a lot of great things with it, but at the same time, it’s about not losing yourself in it and understanding that my identity is in Christ.”<\/p>\n

This faith has been central to Jeanty’s journey, helping him grow both as an athlete and a person. He often credits his “ultimate transformation” to the strength and direction he’s found in his relationship with God.<\/p>\n

While Jeanty’s individual performance in the championship game was remarkable\u2014his sixth 200-yard rushing game this season\u2014he emphasized that Boise State’s success was a collective effort.<\/p>\n

“This means everything. This is everything we’ve worked for, and to come out here and accomplish it, you’ve got to give credit to the team\u2014offense, defense, special teams coming together tonight,” he said. “The connection and love we have as a team is stronger than anything.”<\/p>\n

That team unity, Jeanty believes, is part of the blessing they’ve experienced this season.<\/p>\n

Jeanty’s achievements have placed him squarely in the Heisman conversation, even as Colorado’s Travis Hunter remains the frontrunner. With ballots due before the College Football Playoffs, Boise State coach Spencer Danielson made a compelling case for Jeanty.<\/p>\n

“In regards to the Heisman, I ask all voters to please just watch the film, watch the stats,” Danielson said. “That will show you that he’s the best football player in the country. If you’re a Heisman candidate, you should play in a championship game. And to see what he did in a championship game for his team also speaks volumes.”<\/p>\n

As Jeanty prepares for the next chapter in his career\u2014the NFL\u2014he remains focused on the foundation that has guided him this far: his faith. For him, football is more than just a game; it’s a platform to glorify God.<\/p>\n

“I’ve learned that success doesn’t define me\u2014my relationship with Christ does,” Jeanty once said. “That’s the ultimate goal: to reflect His light in everything I do.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty capped off a stellar college football season by leading the Broncos to a Mountain West Championship and securing their spot in the College Football Playoffs. But for the Heisman Trophy hopeful, the glory wasn’t about personal accolades or NFL prospects\u2014it was about giving thanks to God. In Friday night’s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":627,"featured_media":41653,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nHeisman Hopeful Ashton Jeanty Credits God as Boise State Wins Mountain West Title<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2024\/12\/heisman-hopeful-ashton-jeanty-credits-god-as-boise-state-wins-mountain-west-title.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Heisman Hopeful Ashton Jeanty Credits God as Boise State Wins Mountain West Title\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty capped off a stellar college football season by leading the Broncos to a Mountain West Championship and securing their spot in the College Football Playoffs. 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