Ashton Jeanty rolls back into Boise. He did so driving a monster truck
Just over a year after being drafted sixth overall in the NFL Draft, former Boise State Bronco Ashton Jeanty returned to Albertsons Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
But instead of the blue turf on which Jeanty had become accustomed to running over opponents for three seasons, he was greeted by a different sight Saturday: a huge swath of brown, orange and blue dirt, huge ramps, and crushed cars and vans.
The Las Vegas Raiders running back was in Boise for the Hot Wheels Monster Truck event at Albertsons Stadium, and delighted the crowd of over 25,000 when he made a guest appearance by driving the “Smashton Jeanty” monster truck into the stadium.
“I might do a couple of backflips. We’ll see,” Jeanty teased before the event.
In the end, his mid-show cameo in the blue and orange-flamed BSU-themed monster truck was a little tamer, as he drove a lap around the stadium before hopping out of the truck to raucous applause.
Jeanty met with the media at the edge of the dirt arena, where the 50-yard line would typically be, before the event. It took just a couple of minutes for the first young fan to shout a request for Jeanty to sign his hat; before long, fans young and old were leaning over the railing for an autograph or picture with the 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up.
“It feels great,” Jeanty said to the backdrop of shouting fans. “That’s what it’s about. Inspiring others and giving back to the community.”
While Jeanty undoubtedly gave plenty to the Boise State football community — chief among those a 2,601-yard rushing season and College Football Playoff appearance in 2024 — the program recently honored him, too.
Upon installation of a new blue turf later this summer, Boise State will color the 2-yard hash marks orange in honor of Jeanty’s jersey number while at the school. The only other player to earn that honor is Broncos great Kellen Moore, who’ll see the 11-yard hash mark painted orange for his jersey number.
“It’s always great to be honored by your program for the things that you’ve done,” Jeanty said. “Every time I come back, it’s something I can look at, and it’s a physical example of the special things that I did and also Kellen Moore, too.”
Jeanty is coming off a rookie season with the Raiders in which he led all NFL rookies in rushing with 975 yards behind one of the weakest offensive lines in the league.
When asked what is the biggest comparison he sees between the Boise State and Las Vegas fan bases, he responded with one word:
“Diehard.”
