In a game increasingly dominated by high-powered passing offenses, it isn’t likely that a running back will be regarded as one of the best players at the end of the season, let alone have an entire system built around them. But looking back on college football and the NFL so far this season, Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) and Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia) have completely rewrote what it means to be a running back, with both of them in reach of setting single-season rushing records. Their seasons have exceeded all expectations, bringing promise to a position that has been going mute in today’s game.
Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty catapulted Boise State into the expanded 12 team playoff, as the Broncos sit #9 nationally and #3 in the playoffs after their comfortable win in the Mountain West Championship. The junior is currently on pace to beat Barry Sanders’s record for single-season rushing yards, a testament to his game-breaking balance and big play ability. And if not for Colorado’s 2 way star Travis Hunter, Jeanty would been a heavy favorite to win the Heisman trophy.
As a Mountain West powerhouse, Boise State certainly hasn’t seen a strength of schedule comparable to that of many other teams in the playoff. Their competition has placed Jeanty in an uphill battle since the season began, as his video game-like numbers are seen as “flukey” in the eyes of Heisman trophy voters. No nonpower conference player has captured the award since Ty Detmer in 1990.
What they don’t see (or perhaps choose not to) is that Jeanty has more than risen to the occasion when he faces the teams he’s criticized for not facing. In the Mountain West Championship, he capped off a historic regular season with his 5th 200 yard performance against UNLV’s top 10 run defense. The Broncos found themselves up 3 touchdowns after a signature 75 yard rushing touchdown from Jeanty, and, much like their star RB on that play, they never looked back.
Even against the last remaining undefeated team in Oregon early in the season, Jeanty exploded for 192 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-34 loss. Whether college fans want to believe it or not, there is no stopping him as the focal point of Boise’s rushing attack. Jeanty will be looking to prove himself right and his doubters wrong as he heads into the 12 team playoffs.
Saquon Barkley
As player’s salaries continue to go up in the NFL, teams are often forced to choose between star players. Because NFL offenses are straying away from the run game, franchise quarterbacks are being kept over everything, or, in the Giants case, Daniel Jones.
New York extended Jones to a four year contract for $160 million last offseason, meaning they put Saquon Barkley on the back burner. In an all but surprising turn of events, Jones is no longer with the Giants as he was cut and moved on to the Vikings, where he is currently a backup, while Saquon’s MVP campaign has led the Eagles back to the top of the NFC East.
The Eagles’ offensive line is one of the easiest to run behind in the league, and Saquon has taken full advantage of it. The former Giant has eclipsed over 1600 rushing yards and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single season record. Looking past the numbers, Saquon has completely revitalized an Eagles franchise that has been trending downhill since their Super Bowl appearance a few years ago.
Philly finished behind the Cowboys in the division last season before Baker Mayfield’s heroics sent them home in the wildcard game. Their last ditch effort to return to prominence was signing Barkley to a 3 year, $37.8 million contract and praying he could stay on the field.
Eagles fans wondered if going all in on a running back who has struggled to stay on the field was the right move for a franchise already struggling with cap space, but all doubts have officially been put to rest. The constant big play threat between Jalen Hurts and Saquon has been unstoppable for opposing defenses, restoring the Eagles as an NFC powerhouse at 11-2.
Though it’s unlikely Saquon will win the MVP award, his season will forever be remembered as the one that helped bring the running back position back to prominence.
