Ashton Jeanty etched his name into college football history, becoming Boise State’s highest NFL draft pick ever. The Las Vegas Raiders selected the running back with the sixth overall pick in 2025.
Jeanty’s final season was nothing short of legendary. He amassed 2,601 rushing yards. The Heisman runner-up and unanimous first-team All-American also found the end zone 30 times, becoming the only player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to rush for more than 100 yards in 14 games in a single season. His dominance extended beyond traditional metrics, setting College Football Playoff-era records for yards after contact (1,970), missed tackles forced (164) and an unprecedented Pro Football Focus rushing grade of 96.6.
Behind Jeanty’s performance, the Broncos secured their second consecutive Mountain West title, earning a No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff, and capping it off with a Vrbo Fiesta Bowl berth. The team’s final ranking of No. 8 in the Associated Press poll underscored its national prominence.
A consensus All-American and two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, Jeanty also claimed the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and the Bobby Bowden Trophy, while earning finalist honors for the prestigious Walter Camp Award and Amateur Athletic Union James E. Sullivan Award. His versatility was evident in 2023, when he stood alone as the only player nationwide with multiple rushing and receiving touchdowns of 50 or more yards.
Jeanty departs Boise State holding career records in rushing yards. He joins a group of 73 Broncos drafted into the NFL, the 44th since 2000 – the most from any Mountain West program. He is also the latest first-round selection, a distinguished list that includes Ryan Clady, Shea McClellin, Leighton Vander Esch, Kyle Wilson and Doug Martin.
Jeanty’s sixth overall selection marks the second-highest in Mountain West Conference history and the highest for a running back since 2018.
And more on the football front…
Jeanty is not the only Bronco joining the NFL. The Detroit Lions selected defensive end Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, making the All-American the first Egyptian player drafted into the NFL. Hassanein was a two-time All-Mountain West first team selection and a 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America second team pick. As a senior, he was tabbed College Football Network All-America honorable mention and was a finalist for Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year.
In addition to Jeanty and Hassanein, wide receiver Cam Camper, offensive lineman Ben Dooley and safety Alexander Teubner will also join the NFL. They were signed as free agents for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens, respectively.
Paul family expands legacy and impact
The family of former Bronco football fullback Dan Paul has endowed an annual scholarship for student-athletes in Paul’s name. The ties between the university and the family are strong already – players honor Paul at each game by carrying the “Dan Paul Hammer” – a sledgehammer symbolizing Paul’s strong work ethic – out of the tunnel before team introductions.
The Pauls kickstarted the scholarship with $47,000 to match Paul’s jersey number.
“We are so grateful to Scott, Peggy, Joey and Margaret for their continued commitment to Bronco athletics,” Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey said. “The example and spirit displayed by Dan during his life grows even deeper with this impactful gift. To see future Broncos who embody Dan’s spirit earn a degree with the help of a scholarship that bears his name will be powerful.”
Paul’s father, Scott Paul, said that establishing a scholarship is the family’s way to give back to the university and its future athletes. “Daniel embodied team, blue collar, excellence, loyalty, selflessness. He was a champion of the underdog. His years on the Fiesta Bowl winning team will forever be remembered by us all.”
Dan Paul played for the Broncos from 2008-12. He died in 2019 at the age of 30.
“Daniel was a force of nature – he lived big, he loved big and he played big,” said Peggy Paul. “We hope to grow his legacy at Boise State and give back to the place he lived, loved and where he played with his mighty heart.”
Paul came to Boise State as a linebacker, but switched to fullback early in his career. During his time with the Broncos, Paul caught 14 passes for 95 yards and totaled four touchdowns. His top performance came in 2009 when he made three touchdowns and 22 yards in a 44-33 win over Nevada. Paul finished his career with a 51-5 record in the Blue and Orange and was a member of the 2010 Fiesta Bowl team.
Support the Dan Paul Scholarship
Groundbreaking for the North End Zone Project
Boise State’s leadership, donors and construction partners gathered to celebrate the project’s groundbreaking in January 2025.
“It is always a great day to be a Bronco, but this is really a great day to be a Bronco,” Head Football Coach Spencer Danielson said. “This phenomenal facility will not only affect our football players, but affect all our student-athletes.”
The project will transform the fan and student-athlete experience by replacing existing bleacher seating with a permanent, state-of-the-art structure. The space includes approximately 1,600 premium seats and additional enhancements, including an open-air sports bar, expanded concourses for improved movement and access and additional restrooms and concession kiosks. The space will also serve as a year-round dining and nutrition center for student-athletes across 18 programs. The facility is designed for year-round use, including concerts and other public events.
With a $65 million budget, the project is being funded by private donations and advance premium seating sales, with 70% of the fundraising goal already met.
And speaking of the North End Zone…
The project is providing work opportunities for graduates of Boise State’s thriving construction management program. Quinn Clovis, a 2025 graduate from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, got his start in construction in high school when he spent a summer on a concrete crew.
“I was only 15 and couldn’t even drive yet, so mom or dad had to drop me off at the construction site. It was hard, hauling sheets of plywood and being covered in concrete. I almost quit, but my dad told me to stick it out. I did. That job sealed my fate and here I am today,” Clovis said.
Clovis led a team that finished first in the commercial category at the 2025 Associated Schools of Construction Region 6 & 7 student competition in Nevada. His success helped him get a job with Andersen Construction, the firm overseeing the North End Zone. “If you graduate from this program and want a job, you’ll get one — and a rewarding one at that,” Clovis said.
2024 highlights:
Boise State Athletics celebrated:
– A graduation rate of 96% among student-athletes
– A cumulative GPA of 3.42 among student-athletes, the highest in the history of the department