Haitian American Ashton Jeanty eyes breaking records after Heisman loss

Haitian American running back Ashton Jeanty, college football’s leading rusher, vowed to bounce back after finishing second to Colorado’s Travis Hunter in the closest Heisman race since 2009.

“I really felt like I should’ve walked away with the award, but kudos to Travis for winning,” Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty said, according to ESPN. “But yeah, it’s simple as that. Work harder, go harder.”

Hunter received 552 first-place votes and 2,231 total points, narrowly edging Jeanty, who garnered 309 first-place votes and 2,017 points. Despite the outcome, Jeanty said he is “100% motivated” to use this setback as fuel for his upcoming games.

The 20-year-old has already cemented his place in college football history. Jeanty rushed for 2,497 yards this season and is just 132 yards away from breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards, set in 1988. Boise State will face the winner of the SMU-Penn State game in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.

“This isn’t the end, this is just the beginning,” Jeanty said. “So I just have to do that much more to get the things that I want.”

Jeanty’s season has been filled with accolades. Earlier this week, he received the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top player and the Doak Walker Award for the best running back. His success has drawn attention to his Haitian heritage and the growing representation of Haitian American athletes in collegiate football.

As he prepares for the playoffs, Jeanty remains focused on breaking records and bringing glory to Boise State.

“I’ve got a lot more to accomplish,” Jeanty added, signaling his readiness to take on the next challenge.

Jeanty’s remarkable journey continues on Dec. 31, where all eyes will be on the star running back as he attempts to lead the Broncos to victory and etch his name further into football history.

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