Boise State’s star running backs share tight bond: ‘Showed me what it is to be a Bronco’
When leaders on the Boise State football team were asked to draft players for their unity groups this summer, redshirt senior running back George Holani didn’t hesitate with his first selection.
It was fellow running back Ashton Jeanty.
“It just shows our bond and shows how much he trusts me,” Jeanty said. “He knows that I’m gonna go hard for him every time.”
Their off-field bond could be considered rare for two guys competing for playing time, but it might be what makes them such a powerful duo on the field. They’re both laser-focused on doing what it takes to help the Broncos.
“I’ll be honest with you, those two guys don’t need any external motivation,” Boise State coach Andy Avalos said. “They actually work really well together. They’re two of the most competitive people that I’ve ever been around.”
Holani and Jeanty debuted their one-two punch last season. Holani rushed for a team-best 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Jeanty, then a freshman, added 821 yards and seven TDs. Jeanty also made two starts in place of an injured Holani, and set Boise State postseason and Frisco Bowl records for rushing yards, racking up a career-high 178 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries in the Broncos’ win.
“When you have two guys who can make plays, it’s really special for this offense,” Holani said. “It makes a lot of things easier for the quarterbacks and receivers.”
Under new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan, a former BSU quarterback, the Broncos are bound to get creative this fall using their running backs. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see both players on the field at the same time.
“We use many different formations where we’re both in the backfield and either of us can get it,” Holani said. “One of us can get it and one can run the option. We also have Ashton running outside running routes out there and running sweeps and stuff like that. It’s pretty crazy how we utilize this offense.”
Holani and Jeanty are both likely to get 12 to 15 carries a game this year, Hamdan said earlier this summer. The duo will be paired with a mobile quarterback in redshirt sophomore Taylen Green, meaning the Broncos are likely to eat up a lot of yards on the ground in 2023. The trio rushed for 2,564 yards and 27 touchdowns last season.
“It’s definitely a great feeling knowing that when you switch people, the level of play, the intensity, it doesn’t go down one bit,” Jeanty said. “We both, in turn, can have fresh legs.”
A standout player since his debut as a freshman, Holani hasn’t been the least bit hesitant about sharing the spotlight with his younger teammate. Hamdan said Holani “is probably the most humble guy we have.”
“Ever since I came here, he just embraced me and took me under his wing,” Jeanty said of Holani. “He showed me what it is to be a Bronco.”
Boise State’s projected running back depth chart
The starter: Instead of testing the NFL waters, Holani chose to come back for his redshirt senior year. He’s eclipsed 100 yards in a game 13 times in his career, and the Broncos are undefeated in those games.
The backup: Jeanty is more than just a backup. He’s certain to be on the field plenty after a dazzling freshman season. “I think he’s a guy that’s totally transformed his body,” Hamdan said.
The stable: “It’s awesome to have this many guys that have been in the system and kind of know what we’re doing on offense,” running backs coach James Montgomery said last week. That list includes redshirt senior Tyler Crowe and receiver-turned-running back Kaden Dudley, a redshirt sophomore. And true freshman Jambres “Breezy” Dubar is already fitting in physically at 6-0 and 196 pounds.
