Deion Sanders Praises Ashton Jeanty After Historic CFB Season: 'You Are Him'

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders offered words of encouragement for Ashton Jeanty after the Boise State running back saw his season end Tuesday night.

"Proud of you young man. Your future is as bright as it gets," Sanders wrote on X. "Keep God 1st which I know u will. Dismiss the fools that are negative on every day that ends with a 'Y'. You are HIM my man. Got has u covered. Ashton Jeanty."

Jeanty went for 104 yards on 30 carries as the Broncos lost the Fiesta Bowl, 31-14, to Penn State. In addition to Boise State's dreams of reaching the national championship game disappearing, its best player was unable to break Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record and was just 28 yards short.

Like his fellow Hall of Famer, Barry Sanders praised Jeanty for what was still an incredible season:

Jeanty wound up with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground in 14 games this year.

In any general retrospectives on 2024 in college football, he'll undoubtedly occupy a spot because fans were glued to his attempt to chase down the Oklahoma State and Detroit Lions legend. The junior also made Boise State games almost appointment viewing, such was his dominance on the field. He went for 200-plus yards in six of the Broncos' games.

Jeanty's exploits weren't enough to put him over the top in the Heisman Trophy race. He finished runner-up to Colorado's Travis Hunter. While complimentary of the ball-carrier, Coach Prime didn't hide the fact he thought Hunter was a far superior Heisman candidate.