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 surpassed the 2,000 rushing yards threshold on Saturday against Wyoming. He is the first running back to achieve this goal since 2019, when four players did so: Chuba Hubbard, Malcolm Perry, JK Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor.

He got there in the third quarter and broke a tackle for some extra yardage.

Reaching 2,000 yards is important to Jeanty for reasons beyond wins, awards and NFL stock. He made a bet with his offensive line before the season that he would cut off his dreadlocks if he didn’t reach the double millennium mark. It was a bold gamble for a player who had put up 1,437 yards receiving the season before, but the confidence was clearly justified.

In case you opened the Ashton Jeanty article wanting to see a home run instead of a gritty five-yard gain, Jeanty had one in the first quarter.

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

Unfortunately, Jeanty wasn’t able to do much after reaching 2,000. Later in the third quarter he took a hard tackle on the legs and was left in significant pain after the play. He was able to limp off the field and into the injury tent, only to be back on the sideline in the fourth quarter.

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

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