The 2024 Heisman Trophy race is heating up, and while there is no clear frontrunner yet, two of the leading contenders for the honor are Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty and Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter.
Jeanty has taken the nation by storm with his massive rushing totals for Boise State, racking up 1,248 yards and 17 touchdowns on just 126 carries in six games. Hunter, meanwhile, has been balling out as a wide receiver (49 receptions, 587 yards, six touchdowns) and cornerback (18 tackles, two interceptions, three passes deflected).
While Jeanty now has a little advantage over the competition, Hunter recently criticized him and his campaign, claiming that there have been other great running backs, but there has never been a two-way Heisman candidate like him.
However, this is not quite right, as social media reminded Hunter.
We actually have seen a player that plays both ways win the Heisman (Charles Woodson, 1998) more recently than a running back that’s put up these numbers (Barry Sanders, 1988). https://t.co/UdT12sjfXw
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) October 16, 2024
While Charles Woodson is best known as a Hall of Fame lockdown cornerback in the NFL, he also played wide receiver at Michigan and won the Heisman Trophy in his final season there.
Hunter is correct that there are many terrific college rushing backs, but none of them have produced the numbers that Jeanty does. Furthermore, no running back has won the Heisman while producing at Jeanty’s level since Barry Sanders nearly 40 years ago.
There’s no doubt that both of these guys have a great Heisman case, but Hunter’s attempt to entirely invalidate Jeanty’s record numbers seems needless.
When they return to the field, both will attempt to strengthen their Heisman arguments even more. The competition is far from over, and one of college football’s best quarterbacks might potentially get back into the mix. However, a Hunter-Jeanty race is clearly developing.
