Former NFL running back Mark Ingram believes that Boise State Broncos star Ashton Jeanty is worthy of winning this year’s Heisman Trophy. During a segment of the “Big Noon Kickoff” show, Ingram, Matt Leinart, and Charles Woodson discussed the race for one of college football’s most coveted honors.
Awarded annually to the top college football player that season, the Heisman Trophy has been won by legends such as Barry Sanders and Joe Burrow, as well as both Ingram and Woodson, too.
What Was Discussed About the Heisman Race?
In the aforementioned segment, the three men explained how the Heisman race was largely down to Jeanty and Colorado Buffaloes WR/CB Travis Hunter.
While discussing whether Jeanty was deserving of the award, Ingram outlined how noteworthy his season truly has been.
“He is worthy to be in the conversation. He is worthy of this award. He has nearly 2,300 yards and 28 touchdowns. And when you talk about, he is running through contact, he is running through tackles, he has almost 1,700 yards after contact — that’s more than any other player’s total yards in the nation,” he stated.
Although everyone agreed that Jeanty’s campaign has been remarkable, Woodson did take time to explain his belief that Hunter was the most deserving candidate. He detailed how his recent performance “let you know he is one of the best receivers in the game, one of the best DBs in the game, and the best overall player in college football”.
Does Ashton Jeanty have a shot at winning the Heisman? 🤔🏆@markingramII, @MattLeinartQB, and @CharlesWoodson break it down ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/TgAmKsMBfM
— Big Noon Kickoff (@BNKonFOX) November 30, 2024
Who Is Favored to Win the Heisman Trophy?
Although both men are enjoying phenomenal seasons and have boosted their 2025 NFL Draft stock exponentially, Hunter is the favorite for the Heisman Trophy at the time of this writing.
According to Pro Football Network’s Dalton Miller and his Top 100 Big Board, both Hunter and Jeanty are projected to be selected in the first round — and more specifically the top five of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Miller explains how the projected No. 1 overall pick Hunter is “one of one.”
“If we had allowed ourselves to split the player into a cornerback and wide receiver, he would have ranked first and 12th, respectively. He’s the top cornerback in the NFL Draft, and he’s the second-best receiver. His rare ball skills as a wide receiver translate to the other side of the ball, and he’s played with more physicality in 2024 than in 2023.”
Regarding Jeanty and his No. 5 overall projection, Miller said, “Saquon Barkley was a unique athlete. Bijan Robinson’s usage at Texas made him a special prospect. Neither player was as complete as Ashton Jeanty.”
“He led all RBs in receiving yards in 2023. Few are more alert and adept in pass protection. His vision is S-Tier good. He pops off Marshawn Lynch-esque runs of strung-together broken and missed tackles, all while possessing more than enough long speed to be an explosive threat every time he touches the ball,” he added.
As is clear, both men are having Heisman Trophy-deserving seasons; despite that, only one will win it in the end. While it remains to be seen when and where Hunter and Jeanty will be drafted, it is evident that two NFL franchises will be getting an elite prospect who has the skills and abilities to improve the direction of their team.