Ashton Jeanty makes it ‘anti-climactic’ for Dirk Koetter. But not in the way you’d think
Boise State offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has seen a lot in his 42 years of coaching.
From before the turn of the century, when he guided Boise State to two Big West Conference titles, to his 14 years coaching in the NFL, he’s been around some big names and great players.
He coached a young Matt Ryan as the Atlanta Falcons quarterback blossomed into a star, before taking on quarterback Jameis Winston as a rookie with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2011, he helped coach Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew to an NFL-leading 1,606 rushing yards and a Pro Bowl appearance. He watched receivers such as Mike Evans and Julie Jones put up 1,000-yard seasons and overwhelm defenses.
And yet Boise State junior running back Ashton Jeanty continues to blow his mind.
When asked about Jeanty earlier this week, Koetter described the Texan as “ahead of his time.” Through five games this season — which includes having rested on the bench for two entire halves — Jeanty has an NCAA-leading 1,031 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
“I’ve been blessed to be around a lot of fantastic players,” Koetter said Monday. “He’s playing at a superior, elite, elite, elite level, and he’s a junior in college … he’s just way ahead of the curve.”
Jeanty already has four touchdown runs of 70-plus yards this season, which ties him for second-most in a single season since 1996. He’s also tied the record, with seven other players, for the fastest to pass 1,000 rushing yards (five games).
And it’s not as if those plays were designed to be long runs. Koetter said he expects most of Jeanty’s explosive plays to be 4-yard gains, and it’s almost “anti-climactic” when it’s time for the offense to get to work.
“We were on defense first, and we go through the kicking plays,” Koetter said. “Finally, it’s time for me to do my job, and he takes a counter play and runs it 70 yards for a touchdown.”
“That’s more popcorn (for me), and wait for the next series,” he laughed.
Koetter expects Jeanty and the offense to be challenged against Hawaii this weekend. The Rainbow Warriors are holding opponents to 120.6 rushing yards per game.
Jeanty, meanwhile, is averaging 206.2 yards per game by himself. As a team, the Broncos are at a whopping 301.2 yards a game.
And here’s the kicker: Jeanty averages 151 yards per game after contact. Even when defenses are blocking up the gaps, Jeanty still finds a way through.
“That’s what makes him special,” Koetter said. “There’s all the videos and stuff out there of five, six, seven guys having a shot at him. He’s doing a lot on his own.”
Hawaii vs. Boise State
When: 9 p.m. Mountain time Saturday
Where: Clarence T.C. Ching Complex (15,194, Turf)
TV: CBS Sports Network (Rich Waltz, Robert Turbin)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KTIK 93.1 FM/Sirius XM Ch. 113 or 201 (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State 4-1, 1-0; Hawaii 2-3, 0-1
Series: Boise State leads the series 15-3
Vegas line: Boise State by 20.5 points
Weather: High of 86, low of 75, humidity 60%, partly cloudy skies, 6% chance of rain
This story was originally published October 12, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
