BOISE, Idaho – Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty achieved the most significant individual accomplishment in program history on Thursday, winning the Maxwell Award, an award that recognizes the most outstanding player in college football.

Jeanty defeated both Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Colorado tackle Travis Hunter, the other two finalists. Each year, NCAA football head coaches, sports information directors, select national media outlets and members of the Maxwell Football Club vote on the award.

This is only the second time in the last 22 seasons that a running back has received the Maxwell Award. Former Alabama running back Derrick Henry was the last to achieve this feat in 2015. Of the eleven running backs who have won the award since 1979, nine have also won the Heisman Trophy.

Jeanty set Boise State single-season records this fall with 2,497 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns. He nearly became the fourth FBS player with at least 2,000 rushing yards and 30 total touchdowns in a single season since 1956. He is also just 132 rushing yards away from breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record (2,628), one of the more sacred records in all of college football.

In recent years, the Maxwell Award winner has often won the Heisman Trophy. Eight of the last ten Maxwell Award winners also won the Heisman Trophy.

Jeanty is the first player from a Group 5 school to receive this special honor since former BYU quarterback Ty Detmer in 1990.

This is the second national award Jeanty received on Thursday. He also won the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the best running back in college football.

Jeanty now sets her sights on the Heisman Trophy, which will be announced Saturday in New York.

List of running backs who won the Maxwell Award:

• 2015 – Derrick Henry, Alabama*

• 2002 – Larry Johnson, Penn State

• 1999 – Ron Dayne, Wisconsin*

• 1998 – Ricky Williams, Texas*

• 1995 – Eddie George, Ohio State*

• 1989 – Anthony Thompson, Indiana

• 1988 – Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State*

• 1983 – Mike Rozier, Nebraska*

• 1982 – Herschel Walker, Georgia*

• 1981 – Marcus Allen, USC*

• 1979 – Charles White, USC*

• 1978 – Chuck Fusina, Pennsylvania

• 1976 – Tony Forsett, Pitt*

• 1975 – Archie Griffin, Ohio State*

• 1973 – John Cappelletti, Penn State*

• 1971 – Ed Marinaro, Cornell

• 1968 – OJ Simpson, USC*

• 1961 – Bob Ferguson, Ohio State

• 1960 – Joe Bellino, Marine*

• 1958 – Pete Dawkins, Army*

• 1956 – Tommy McDonald, Oklahoma

• 1955 – Howard Cassady, Ohio State*

• 1953 – Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame*

• 1952 – Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame

• 1951 – Dick Kazmaier, Princeton*

• 1950 – Reds Bagnell, Pennsylvania

• 1947 – Doak Walker, SMU

• 1946 – Charley Trippi, Georgia

• 1944 – Glenn Davis, Army

• 1943 – Bob Odell, Pennsylvania

• 1941 – Bill Dudley, Virginia

• 1939 – Nile Kinnick, Iowa*