“There’s more to life than money. I want to leave a legacy,” said RB Ashton Jeanty about his stint at the ise State. He missed the Barry Sanders NCAA single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards by just 27 yards. It was clear. The player was destined for glory. He finished his college career as a Heisman Trophy runner-up.

After declaring for the 2025 draft, NFL franchises, particularly the Cowboys, are interested in the 5 feet 8.5 inches 211 pounds athlete. His progress in college ticked all the required boxes.

What are Ashton Jeanty’s career highlights and statistics?

The 21-year-old running back came in as a confident player. But the chances were few. When he got playing time, he used it to decimate rivals, showing he was made of winning stuff. In 2022, his freshman year, he played 14 games (2 started) and recorded 156 rushes for 821 yards.

One factor often overlooked in the rise of Ashton Jeanty is the change of the Boise State HC. Spencer Danielson replaced Andy Avalos mid-season in 2023. And he gave chances to Ashton Jeanty. That’s when the RB went on a roll. In 2024, his final year, he started all 14 games and finished with 374 rushes for 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. He also has strength as shown in his 54-yard highlight-of-the-game run against Hawaii.

Overall, in 3 seasons, he had 750 rushes in 4,769 rushing yards and 50 TDs. He showed talent in the receiving game, with 80 receptions for 862 receiving yards and 6 TDs. As expected, sponsors came running, trying to cash in on his rising fame.

What is Ashton Jeanty’s NIL deal worth?

With a $2 million NIL budget, Boise State isn’t among the highest-paying places in the country. But the running back came out on top there as well. Last October, he had the highest NIL earnings among college players. But he isn’t one to focus much on money. He knows that bagging an NFL contract will ensure that he and his family are well-settled on that front.

While talking about the NIL money in a Front Office Sports interview, Ashton Jeanty said, “You look at a player like me who went through Boise State, I was able to develop. That’s the most important thing is to be able to play on the next level. The money you get right now, it’s cool. It’s great. But the money you’ll get in the NFL, that’s life changing. That’s generational.”

That’s a very powerful message in its simplest form. The 21-year-old knows he can earn money if his performance is worth it. But for the brands trying to stand out in the football world, they wanted to associate with the running back.

Who are Ashton Jeanty’s top NIL sponsors?

Not only brands, but even NFL players like to keep tabs on younger talent. They always keep an eye out for the upcoming forces. Raiders DE Maxx Crosby is one of them. He signed a deal with the underwear brand SAXX and chose Ashton Jeanty as one of their potential signings.

In December last year, they fulfilled Crosby’s wish, with an NIL deal. They aimed to promote the athlete’s stature with wild posting and mobile billboards in and around New York City. That’s impressive. Jeanty even got a new nickname from the brand, Thighs-man. The partnership will run through the 2025 draft.

Ashton Jeanty also thanked the NFL star for choosing him as brand ambassador and said, “I’m excited to team up with SAXX to be their newest college football game-changer. It’s really cool that SAXX and Maxx Crosby picked me for this NIL deal.”

Everyone hoped he would win the Heisman Trophy. But he couldn’t. It’s time to move on for now. The draft is upon us. It will give a new milestone to his footballing journey and bring in life-changing wealth. How high will he go in the pecking order?