Ashton Jeanty prepares Heisman acceptance speech he’ll never be able to deliver after losing to Travis Hunter
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty’s Heisman Trophy acceptance speech will end in the same place as Kamala Harris’ presidential election victory speech.
Jeanty, a finalist for the award Saturday night, trailed Colorado State two-way star Travis Hunter in the voting. Jeanty is coming off the best season in Boise State history and one of the best seasons in college football history.
He took his chances of winning so seriously that he wrote and practiced his acceptance speech and even told the world that he had done so.
“I practiced my speech last night to make sure I was ready when I arrived,” Genty told reporters ahead of Saturday’s ceremony.
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Heisman Trophy finalists (from left): Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Miami’s Cam Ward poses with the trophy on December 13, 2024 in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Shipkin)
But Hunter’s dominance this season both offensively as a wide receiver and defensively as a defensive back was too much for Tee to overcome.
Hunter received 552 first-place votes, beating Jeanty’s 309. They are the top two vote-getters in the poll so far and the closest since 2009.
Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty expresses his belief after Boise State wins Mountain West title in playoff game
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) takes a pass from UNLV defensive lineman Tato Martinson ( Tatuo Martinson (98). (AP Photo/Steve Connor)
As a wide receiver, Hunter caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards and 14 total touchdowns. Hunter won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. As a cornerback, Hunter finished with 31 tackles, 11 pass deflections and 4 interceptions, laying a solid foundation for Colorado’s defense.
Hunter also won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player, becoming the first player to win both the Bednarik Award and the Biletnikov Award.
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Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty is interviewed by Fox Sports reporter Allison Williams after the game against the UNLV Rebels on Dec. 6, 2024 at Albertsons Stadium. (Brian Losnes/Imagn Images)
Jeanty is the first running back to be a Heisman Trophy finalist since 2017, leading the nation with 2,497 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns during the season.
The running back helped Boise State become the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff, which included a first-round bye. Boise State will face the winner of SMU or Penn State.
Hunter’s Colorado team failed to make the playoffs, finishing 23rd.
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