Broncos Projected to Take Heisman Trophy Favorite in 2025

“If Bo Nix is going to work out as the franchise quarterback, it’s going to take a talented supporting cast to make it work,” Ballentine wrote. “That means finding a back who can be Sean Payton’s Alvin Kamara in Denver. Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin have struggled to get loose this season. Meanwhile, Ashton Jeanty is putting together a Heisman campaign … he’s putting up video-game numbers, but he’s also showcased the kind of versatility, contact balance and vision to be a Day 1 pick.”

Jeanty accounted for 1,814 yards of total offense and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023 — 1,262 rushing and 552 receiving. Still, in games against elite competition Jeanty seemed to fall off. In losses to College Football Playoff runner-up Washington and UCLA he failed to crack 100 rushing yards and scored just 1 touchdown.

That hasn’t been a problem so far in 2024. Jeanty thrust himself into the Heisman race  when he almost single-handedly beat No. 3 Oregon at Autzen Stadium on September 7 with 25 carries for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 37-34 loss.

Jeanty followed that up with another headline-stealing performance with 26 carries for 259 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 45-24 win over Washington State on September 28.

“There are no egos in our offense or on our team,” Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson told The Associated Press after the win over Utah State. “It’s, ‘What does the team need?’ That’s what we’ve got, especially when it’s led by a guy like Ashton Jeanty. He was waiting for me on Tuesday before practice to find out if he could get on special teams.”

The Broncos have rarely taken running backs in the first round.

The last time was 2009, when they selected Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno with the No. 12 overall pick. Before Moreno, you have to go back to 1985, when the Broncos selected Oklahoma running back Steve Sewell with the No. 26 overall pick.