BOISE, Idaho – Boise State junior running back Ashton Jeanty won the Doak Walker Award on Thursday, an award given each year to the best running back in college football.

Jeanty leads the FBS in rushing yards (2,497), rushing touchdowns (29) and carries (344) this season. He has also surpassed 200 yards rushing six times so far this fall, making him the most FBS rushing yards in at least 25 years.

Jeanty is not only the first Boise State player to win the award, but also the first Bronco to ever qualify as a finalist. He is also the first Group of 5 player to win the Doak Walker Award since 2001, when former BYU running back Luke Staley claimed the honor.

Jeanty broke 123 tackles and rushed for 1,882 yards after contact in the first 13 games of the season, both FBS single-season records since Pro Football Focus began tracking those statistics in 2014. He broke the previous records of former Texas star player Bijan Robinson (105 broken tackles in 2022) and Alabama alumnus Derrick Henry (1,305 yards after contact in 2015).

This is currently the largest individual award in program history. However, Jeanty is also a finalist for the Maxwell Award, which will be presented Thursday to the most outstanding player in college football. Colorado standout two-player Travis Hunter and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel are also Maxwell Award nominees.

Jeanty, Hunter and Gabriel are also Heisman Trophy finalists alongside Miami quarterback Cam Ward. The Heisman Trophy winner will be announced Saturday in New York.