Boise State's Ashton Jeanty Hyped By CFB Fans as 2025 NFL Draft's RB1 After 6 TD Game
Sep 1, 2024
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 16: Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos avoids a tackle by Jordan Anderson #0 of the UCLA Bruins in the second quarter during the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk at SoFi Stadium on December 16, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Have a day Ashton Jeanty.
The Boise State running back exploded for 267 yards and six touchdowns on 20 carries in the Broncos 56-45 victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday. This broke Boise State's single-game rushing record.
"Obviously, it goes without saying, but Ashton Jeanty is the best player in the country," Boise State coach Spencer Danielson told reporters after the game. "That was on full display tonight."
VIDEO GAME NUMBERS FOR ASHTON JEANTY 🎮
He breaks Boise State's single-game rushing record with 267 yards in the season-opening win 😤 pic.twitter.com/Bg8X95er5g
I have four running backs in my top 40 players for the 2025 NFL Draft. Ashton Jeanty currently has the top spot among the four. Not the biggest guy in the world, but he's explosive and dynamic. pic.twitter.com/PAwt83bnun
— College Sports Only 🏈 🏀 ⚾️ (@CollegeSportsO) August 31, 2024
While fans were quick to praise Jeanty, the running back instead took the time to recognize the work of Boise State's offensive line after the game.
"I've got to shout out my O-line," Jeanty said. "They opened up big, wide holes all game. I've got the easy part: make some guys miss and go run to the end zone."
Jeanty began his third season with the Broncos with a bang, but that doesn't mean it came out of the blue. He is the reigning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year after a 2023 season in which he rushed for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 569 receiving yards and five scores.
The 20-year-old chose to remain with Boise State despite significant transfer interest. He will hope to lead a Boise State team to the College Football Playoff, and his performance on Saturday shows how he is on the right track.
Jeanty and the Broncos will hope to build on the performance next week against a juggernaut. Boise State will travel to No. 3 Oregon for a Saturday matchup set to kick-off at 10 p.m. ET.
Ken Griffey Jr.'s Son Tevin Transfers to Boise State's CFB Team from Florida A&M
Jan 11, 2024
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 03: Tevin Griffey #7 of the Florida A&M Rattlers warms up prior to a game against the Jackson State Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium on September 03, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
The Boise State football team is adding quite the famous surname to its roster for the 2024 campaign.
Boise State announced defensive back Tevin Griffey, who is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., transferred to the Broncos from Florida A&M:
Tevin is not the only son of the baseball legend to play college football, as his older brother Trey was a wide receiver for Arizona from 2013 through 2016.
The younger Griffey started his collegiate career at Florida A&M and tallied 10 tackles and an interception last year. He returned the interception for a touchdown during a win over Prairie View.
He joins a Boise State team looking to bounce back from an 8-6 season, which was below the standards in place for the Broncos. They have won double-digit games 18 different times since the 1999 campaign.
Griffey will look to help them return to those double-digit win totals after joining the secondary on Thursday.
And his famous father will probably be on the sidelines photographing those efforts.
Former 5-Star QB Malachi Nelson Transfers to Boise State From USC
Jan 7, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: USC Trojans quarterback Malachi Nelson (8) looks on before a college football game between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans on November 18, 2023, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Former 5-star recruit Malachi Nelson has officially committed to Boise State after leaving USC, making him the highest-rated player in the school's history (per ESPN's Pete Thamel).
Malachi Nelson commits to Boise State. He’s the former No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and the highest rated player in Boise history. https://t.co/zQLTofUbyW
Nelson was initially considered the No. 5 quarterback prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He appeared in only one game for the Trojans this season as he sat behind Caleb Williams and Miller Moss on the team's depth chart, completing one of his three pass attempts.
Head coach Lincoln Riley told reporters on Dec. 18 that it was "difficult" seeing the highly touted signal-caller enter the transfer portal.
"Yeah, that part is difficult," Riley said, per Sam Gillenwater of On3.com. "The old school in all of us has all the great memories of the guys that we coach that, maybe, weren't ready in the beginning and they progressed, got better, and you got to see the end of that. So, yeah, it's part of it now, you know what I mean? It's just part of the world of college football at this current time."
While Nelson's transfer decision wasn't readily apparent when he entered the portal, his reported visit to Boise State sparked discussion about the quarterback joining head coach Spencer Danielson's program (via Thamel).
He'll have an easier path to earn a starting job as a member of the Broncos, especially after sophomore passer Taylen Green transferred to Arkansas. Nelson will likely battle with Maddux Madsen for the top quarterback spot at Boise State, as Maden appeared in nine games during his 2023 campaign before suffering a season-ending injury against New Mexico in Week 11.
Nelson should help raise the ceiling of a Broncos team that has already amassed 18 wins and two bowl appearances over the past two seasons.
Report: USC QB Malachi Nelson to Visit Boise State After Entering Transfer Portal
Jan 4, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: USC Trojans quarterback Malachi Nelson (8) looks on before a college football game between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans on November 18, 2023, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Boise State could make one of the most notable additions of the entire college football offseason.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Boise State will host former USC quarterback Malachi Nelson for an official visit. Nelson arrived at USC as a 5-star prospect and the No. 12 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, but decided to enter the transfer portal this offseason.
The Broncos could use a playmaker at quarterback after Taylen Green, who won the 2022 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, left to join Arkansas this offseason.
Green appeared in 13 games this season and completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 1,752 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding 436 yards and nine scores on the ground as a runner.
The addition of Nelson would be all about potential.
After all, he had just three pass attempts for the Trojans during the 2023 campaign as he sat behind potential No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams. USC surely hoped he would be the quarterback of the future under head coach Lincoln Riley when it recruited him, but that will no longer be the case.
Boise State's ceiling would instantly elevate with the addition of someone like Nelson, especially given all the returning talent that would be in place around him.
"Boise is the favorite to land Nelson, who is looking for a blue-collar program to blend in and prove himself," Thamel wrote. "Nelson's attraction to Boise stems from the opportunity to grow with a strong program that includes 18 returning starters, four starting OL and star RB Ashton Jeanty."
The Broncos would be a dangerous team with Nelson under center in 2024, especially in a notable nonconference game against Oregon.
JL Skinner NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Boise State S
Apr 26, 2023
BOISE, ID - OCTOBER 29: Boise State Broncos safety JL Skinner (0) on the field during a college football game between the Colorado State Rams and the Boise State Broncos on October 29, 2022, at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, ID. (Photo by Tyler Ingham/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'4"
WEIGHT: 209
HAND: 8 1/4"
ARM: 32"
WINGSPAN: 77 7/8"
40-YARD DASH: N/A
3-CONE: N/A
SHUTTLE: N/A
VERTICAL: N/A
BROAD: N/A
POSITIVES
— Excellent length and size. Very good movement skills for size and position.
— Flashes quick feet and breaking ability, especially when moving forward.
— Matches up well against tight ends and bigger receivers.
— Box and underneath player. Shows toughness and physicality needed to play in the box, with the short-area quickness and length to cover in underneath zones.
— Good run defender who uses his hands when taking on blocks and demonstrates very good tackling.
— Good ball skills to track and play the ball in the air.
NEGATIVES
— Thin frame with room to grow. Lacks some functional strength.
— Can dance around blocks on the edge at times instead of using his size to his advantage.
— Ridged and slow backpedal, combined with some high tightness when swiveling or opening to run.
— Struggles with change-of-direction and top-end speed. Can allow some separation in man coverage. Has struggled a bit when matched up on an island.
2022 STATISTICS
— 12 games, 65 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 4 INT, 5 PBU
NOTES
2022 All-Mountain West first team
2022 Bronko Nagurski Watch List
2022 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
2021 All-Mountain West second team
OVERALL
JL Skinner is an extremely long safety with excellent size. He fits into the mold of Kyle Hamilton, who was a first-round pick in the 2022 draft. Skinner has the versatility to play multiple positions in the defensive secondary. During the 2022 season, he showed the ability to play from the outside cornerback position, the slot and deep as a safety.
In coverage, he has shown to have a decent backpedal and breaking ability, especially when he can keep his eyes on the ball. When playing out wide, his lack of twitch and change-of-direction can show up. Skinner flashes quick feet and a good burst at times, but more often than not, he is slow out of his breaks and gives the receiver a step or two. Also, his hip tightness can show up when he is asked to open and run.
Skinner performs best when he is able to play on top of routes and watch the quarterback throw the ball. When playing from the slot, Skinner does best when breaking forward. His short-area quickness allows him to close ground quickly, and added length aids in his ability to break up passes. Skinner looks to be at his best when he is playing safety from depth. Just like at cornerback, this allows his to see routes develop and open when necessary to stay on top of routes.
When playing the run, Skinner has shown to be a very good run defender. He reacts quickly to what he sees and tracks the ball-carrier with speed and bad intentions. He demonstrates patience and vision when coming down to fill running lanes. Skinner does a great job of keeping leverage in the run game and not letting the ball get outside of him. On contact, he fronts up ball-carriers when he can and looks to deliver big blows. When taking on blocks, he shows very good physicality to control and quickly disengage. He also shows the ability to avoid blocks in space.
Ultimately, Skinner is a unique prospect in this class. Although he can be compared to prospects in previous drafts, he is a one-of-a-kind player. One of the easiest comparisons to Skinner would be Hamilton. Although he doesn't have the elite ball skills and coverage skills Hamilton showed, he most definitely shows up similarly in the run game. Skinner's unique size and versatility will put him among the top safeties in the draft, but he will still need to refine his skills at the next level.
College football's bowl season kicked off on Dec. 16, and since then there has been a lot of fun football. Bowl games are meant to celebrate seasons that teams...
2021 Arizona Bowl Canceled After Boise State Withdraws Due To COVID-19 Outbreak
Dec 27, 2021
BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 08: The Boise State Broncos logo on the blue turf before the game between the Connecticut Huskies vs the Boise State Broncos on Saturday, September 8, 2018, at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The 2021 Barstool Arizona Bowl has been canceled after Boise State withdrew due to COVID-19 issues within its program.
Central Michigan, who was scheduled to face Boise State in the Arizona Bowl will now face Washington State in the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on Friday.
Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey expressed his disappointment for the cancellation in a statement.
"We feel for the young men in our program who were very much looking forward to closing out their season, and for some, their football careers," Dickey said.
The Broncos ended their season with a 7-5 record and finished third in the Mountain West mountain division with a conference record of 5-3. Boise State's last game was a 27-16 loss to San Diego State, which had ended a four-game win streak.
As for Central Michigan, the team will now shift its attention to Washington State. The Cougars were without an opponent after Miami was forced to withdraw from the Sun Bowl on Sunday because of COVID-19 issues.
The Arizona Bowl is the fifth bowl game to be impacted by the recent COVID-19 outbreak that has been affecting the sports world. The Military Bowl and Fenway Bowl were both canceled. Texas A&M withdrew from the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest and was replaced by Rutgers.
Khalil Shakir, Unranked Boise State Beat No. 10 BYU 26-17
Oct 9, 2021
Boise State wide receiver Khalil Shakir (2) and wide receiver Davis Koetter (17) celebrate after a one-handed touchdown reception by Shakir in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nevada, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)
BYU's dream start hit a speed bump on Saturday, as the Cougars were upset by unranked Boise State 26-17 for their first loss of the season.
The 10th-ranked Cougars dominated the stat sheet with a 413-312 advantage in total yards, but they committed four turnovers, including two in Boise State territory, that proved costly.
Broncos wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught five passes for 66 yards in the win. Their rushing attack racked up 140 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries and allowed them to control the clock.
Saturday's win marks Boise State's first victory over a team ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 since the 2010 Fiesta Bowl against TCU.
Boise State hands No. 10 BYU its first loss of the season!
BYU quarterback Jaren Hall did throw an interception on the team's final drive with under two minutes to play, but the first three turnovers came on poor execution.
Tyler Allgeier fumbled the ball away at BYU's 24-yard line midway through the second quarter with BYU leading 10-3.
Boise State needed just four plays to get into the end zone and tie the score. Cyrus Habibi-Likio capped off the drive with an 11-yard drive.
On the ensuing kickoff, Lopini Katoa lost possession of the ball and the Broncos recovered. The Broncos took a 17-10 lead five plays later on Andrew Van Buren's third-down score from one yard out.
Two field goals put Boise State up 23-10 midway through the third quarter. BYU seemed poised to at least get a field goal on its first possession of the second half, but Katoa fumbled again at the Broncos' 18-yard line.
Allgeier did get BYU within six points on a touchdown run with 7:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. Boise State's ensuing possession sealed the win thanks to Jonah Dalmas' 22-yard field goal.
Dalmas was put in position to even have a chance to kick the ball after Shakir caught a 35-yard pass with two defenders around him.
Boise State (3-3) has had an inconsistent start to the season. It did play Oklahoma State and Central Florida close, losing both games by a combined six points. Head coach Andy Avalos got his first marquee win in his sixth game leading the program.
BYU (5-1) fells from the ranks of the unbeaten, but there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the program. It already has wins over Pac-12 teams Utah and Arizona State, the latter of which is currently ranked No. 22 in the AP Top 25.
Oregon's Andy Avalos Reportedly Hired as New Boise State Head Football Coach
Jan 8, 2021
Detail view of Boise State helmets lined up on the bench during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UNLV in Boise, Idaho, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Boise State won 42-25. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)
Boise State has reportedly found its next head football coach.
First reported by B.J. Rains of the Idaho Press and confirmed by ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, the Broncos will hire Oregon defensive coordinator Andy Avalos to replace Bryan Harsin.
Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports and The Athletic reported Avalos will receive a five-year contract.
Rains noted the school is expected to officially announce Avalos' hiring on Friday night.
New Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickeytweeted to Broncos fans on Friday afternoon that he has "been working to bring you the next great (Broncos) head coach!"
Dickey ended the post with "coming soon..." and the eye emoji.
Boise State found itself in the market for a new head coach after Harsin was hired by Auburn on Dec. 22. The Idaho native went 69-19 in seven seasons with the program.
Avalos will be returning to his alma mater as head coach when the hiring becomes official. He played linebacker for four seasons at Boise State from 2001-05.
Since graduating from college, Avalos has worked his way up the coaching ranks. The 39-year-old began his career as a graduate assistant at Colorado from 2006-08. He was an assistant at Boise State from 2012-18 for Chris Petersen and Harsin.
Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal hired Avalos as his defensive coordinator in February 2019. The Ducksranked ninthin the nation in scoring defense (16.5 points allowed per game) in Avalos' first season.
