NFL legend Barry Sanders sends Ashton Jeanty a message as Heisman favorite chases 2,628-yd record
As Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty edges closer to the NCAA single-season rushing record, plenty of fans have been against the idea of seeing NFL legend Barry Sanders lose a record he's kept since 1988. All the noise made Sanders address this situation and wish well on Jeanty.
Sanders took to X (formerly Twitter) to pump up Jeanty ahead of the UNLV Rebels matchup tonight.
"Hey @AshtonJeanty2 - Wishing you luck tonight. My fans can gripe, but records are made to be broken & I am rooting for you. I love seeing all these @NFL and @NCAA #RBs showing the value of the position. #RunTheRock," Sanders tweeted on Friday.
Barry Sanders played three seasons for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, going from a 74-rush, 325-yard and two-touchdown season to one with 105 attempts for 603 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns.
His third and final season was a complete show, as he led the college football in carries (344), rushing yards (2,628) and rushing touchdowns (37), winning the Heisman trophy over Rodney Peete of USC and Troy Aikman of UCLA. He also took home the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year award.
Ashton Jeanty and Boise State boast an 11-1 record heading into this game and Jeanty is 340 rushing yards away from tying Barry Sanders' record.
The Broncos star hasn't had a 300-yard game this season, but he's coming off his third-best performance this campaign, putting up 226 rushing yards on 37 carries.
The first time he faced UNLV, he touched the ball 33 times, but "only" racked up 129 rushing yards.
Jeanty, a strong candidate to win the Heisman trophy this year, could be in for a historic night.
Barry Sanders picks between Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry
During the Detroit Lions' dramatic 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Barry Sanders played a round of "This or That," in which he was given two options and he had to pick one. He was asked about Eminem or Kiss, Diana Ross or Aretha Franklin and even Michael Jordan or Isiah Thomas.
He was also tasked to pick between Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley and Baltimore Ravens icon Derrick Henry. Sanders hesitated for a second before going with the former New York Giants running back.
Barry Sanders' opinion always matters, more so when it comes to star running backs and the future of the position.