Ashton Jeanty responds to Travis Hunter's Heisman Trophy claim: 'I'm the best player'
Days after Travis Hunter tried to diminish Ashton Jeanty's Heisman Trophy odds, Jeanty responded with his own thoughts. Jeanty and Hunter trail Oregon's Dillon Gabriel in Heisman odds, which is shocking in itself, as the two are the best overall players in college football. But Jeanty made it clear where he stands in this race. […]
Days after Travis Hunter tried to diminish Ashton Jeanty's Heisman Trophy odds, Jeanty responded with his own thoughts. Jeanty and Hunter trail Oregon's Dillon Gabriel in Heisman odds, which is shocking in itself, as the two are the best overall players in college football. But Jeanty made it clear where he stands in this race.
Jeanty told Dee of the Deestroying Youtube channel, "I feel like I'm the best player in college football." Considering that Jeanty has 1,248 yards, which is 213 more rushing yards than the No. 2 back in the nation, and continues to bulldoze defenders unlike anyone we've seen in several years, he has the right argument.
Jeanty continued, saying, "Kudos to Travis, he’s balling for real. He’s doing some stuff we ain’t ever seen nobody do. Personally, I don’t take no offense to it. He’s just speaking his opinion, everybody’s got an opinion.
For me, what I’ve been doing hasn’t been done in 36, 37 years, so that’s something special. If I keep that up and break a record that’s been around for 36 years, I feel like you can’t really compete with that.”
Boise State is enjoying a successful 5-1 season, largely thanks to Ashton Jeanty's standout performances, which have propelled them to a No. 17 ranking in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.
At just 20 years old, Jeanty has been a force for the Broncos, amassing 1,248 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns in his first six games. He has demonstrated an exceptional ability to evade defenders while also powering through tackles, with an impressive average of 9.9 yards per carry.
Jeanty is on track to challenge the all-time single-season rushing record in college football, currently held by legendary running back Barry Sanders. Sanders set the record with 2,628 yards at Oklahoma State in 1988, which earned him the Heisman Trophy.
On the other hand, Travis Hunter of the Buffaloes is also having a remarkable season. The 21-year-old has excelled as both a wide receiver and cornerback, with 51 receptions for 604 yards and six touchdowns. Additionally, he has tallied 19 tackles, three passes defended, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.
Hunter expressed that his versatility gives him an advantage, stating, "It's not like we haven't seen a good running back before," during his appearance on the Outta Pocket with RGIII podcast.
Jeanty’s record-breaking potential makes him a strong contender for the Heisman, especially if he surpasses Sanders' legendary mark. Meanwhile, Hunter, despite a recent shoulder injury that impacted his play, continues to be a significant presence for Colorado, who now boasts a 5-2 record, already better than their total from 2023.
The reality is both players have a terrific argument to win, but Hunter's health is key to his own outlook. The fact that Gabriel is leading the sportsbooks is a poor representation of what has happened on the field, and I sure don't hope he gets it because he's a quarterback on the top team.
