Ashton Jeanty becomes the first RB to post 2,000 rushing yards since 2019

Ashton Jeanty is still doing his best to at least make the Heisman race a conversation.

The Boise State running back crossed the 2,000-yard mark on Saturday against Wyoming. He is the first running back to reach the mark since 2019, when four players did it: Chuba Hubbard, Malcolm Perry, JK Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor.

He got there in the third quarter, breaking a tackle for some extra yardage.

Reaching 2,000 yards is important to Jeanty for reasons other than wins, awards and NFL stock. He made a preseason bet with his offensive line that he would cut off his dreadlocks if he did not reach the double millennium. It was a bold bet for a player who posted 1,437 yards the season before, but that confidence was clearly justified.

In case you opened the Ashton Jeanty article because you wanted to see a home run instead of an ugly five-yard gain, Jeanty had one of those in the first quarter.

The junior ripped off a 61-yard run to take the lead, using a gap just big enough to find wide-open space at the second level.

Unfortunately, Jeanty had to take a significant break after reaching 2,000. Later in the third quarter, he took a hard tackle to the legs and was left in significant pain after the play. He was able to walk off the field limping and went into the injury tent and returned to the game in the fourth quarter.

Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson later described Jeanty as “knocked up.”

The injury was badly timed for no. 12 Boise State, which was tied 10-10 with 2-8 Wyoming when Jeanty left the game.