Ashton Jeanty, a running back for Boise State University, has burst onto the scene as a strong candidate for the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in college football. He credits his faith in God for making him a success both on and off the field.
“I like to say that I’m a Christian cleverly disguised as an All-American running back,” he said in a social media video reported by Beliefnet. “I’ve learned that God has blessed me with amazing talents. I’ve just been able to do a lot of great things with it, but at the same time, not losing yourself in it and understanding that my identity is in Christ.”
In August, Jeanty posted a video of him undergoing the sacrament of baptism. Numerous teammates were on hand to witness his public proclamation of faith in Christ, and it was Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson who had the honor of submerging Jeanty under the water.
Jeanty grew up in a Christian household, but his faith was challenged when he transitioned to college life. During his freshman year at Boise State, he struggled with the pressures of football and the demands of academics, which led him into a “deep depression.” However, it was this very struggle that prompted him to turn back to his faith and seek a deeper relationship with God. “Once I decided to give my life to him and change my ways, it’s been an ultimate transformation,” he said.
READ: Former NFL player Benjamin Watson will be keynote speaker at Vitae Foundation dinner
Jeanty found solace in Boise State’s faith-based community, which he credits for helping him grow spiritually and as an athlete.
“I felt that this community has helped me grow tremendously,” he said. “It’s very welcoming. It’s not forceful. It’s not aggressive in any type of way. It’s the way God would want it to be, and I could see, even before stepping foot on this campus, that God had his hands on this program. I could see that Christianity was a big thing here and that guys were really big on their faith.”
The results of this transformation have been evident on the field. Jeanty’s freshman year showed promise as he rushed for 821 yards and seven touchdowns. But his breakout season came the following year, when he rushed for 1,347 yards and scored 14 touchdowns, averaging more than 110 yards per game. This year, he has elevated his performance to a whole new level, leading the nation in multiple categories, including rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and yards per carry.
Despite this success, his faith in Christ remains the central focus of his life.
“You don’t have to be perfect to come to God, but all you have to do is trust in him and have faith in him, and he will change your life,” Jeanty said. “I feel that everything that I’m doing now is because of that. Obviously, I’ve been able to do some great things on the field, but beyond that, he’s changed my life. He’s changed my views, my personality. I felt that I wasn’t really a man before. I was just a boy. But now I feel as I’m a man and a man of God.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice