James Franklin gives first impressions of Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty

Penn State football will face perhaps its biggest individual test of the season during next week’s Fiesta Bowl when the Nittany Lions defense goes up against Boise State star running back and Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty.

“Obviously, it all starts and revolves around Jeanty,” James Franklin said on Monday. “In any other year, I think he wins the Heisman, and you could make the argument that he should have won it this year. He’s hard to tackle. He’s compact, 5’10”. He has the ability to run away from you, has the ability to make you miss. They get him involved in the pass game, they get him involved in the run game.”

The junior running back took the college football world by storm this fall, rushing for just under 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns. The engine of the Broncos offense, Jeanty ran for over 125 yards in every game this season.

“But they’re [Jeanty and quarterback Maddux Madsen] a problem,” Franklin continued. “I think it starts and ends with the running back, and I think they do a really good job of not only getting him the ball in the run game, but also in the pass game. But then also using him in play-action pass to create some opportunities to get some explosive plays down the field in the passing game.

“It will be a definite challenge for us, but they’re kind of a two-headed monster, both athletic guys. Both are not the biggest guys in the world, but really good productive football players that have done it week in and week out against everybody.”

Will Jeanty be able to break the Penn State defense?

© Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2024.

Penn State football has the nation’s No. 7 rushing defense, allowing an average of 100.4 yards per game. Jeanty currently averages 7.3 yards per carry, nearly 2.5 times the Nittany Lions’ season mark of 3.1 yards allowed per attempt.

The Nittany Lions only allowed one 100-yard rusher all season, giving up 111 yards on 20 carries to USC’s Woody Marks on October 12.

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“When you look at his stature, you’re thinking about certain backs. But I don’t know if I have somebody that jumps out in my mind that he reminds me of when I’m watching him on tape. Really, he does a lot of things really well. He can run away from you and score from a distance. Breaks a ton of tackles.

Like his yards after contact, I think I read it somewhere, like 1,300 yards of his rushing yards are after contact, which is a ridiculous stat. I don’t know if I have ever seen that before, but his ability to make people miss, break tackles, finish runs is really impressive.”

With a win, Penn State football will advance to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. The Nittany Lions and Broncos will kick off in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl on December 31 at 7:30 p.m.

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