The Boise State running back, whose video-game-like accomplishments have made him a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, says his identity lies in Christ, not football. Boise State's Ashton Giunty leads college football in rushing yards (1,248) and rushing touchdowns (17) for the No. 15 Broncos (5-1), rushing for at least 175 yards in all but one game. Then, he racked up 192 yards in the top game against Oregon State 5 and 259 yards against Washington State.
His average of 208 yards per game is 52 yards more than second place on the list, Iowa's Caleb Johnson (156 yards). Las Vegas odds say he's a strong candidate for the Heisman, if not the favorite.
But Jeanty remains humble.
“I would like to say that I am a Christian cleverly disguised as an All-American running back,” Giunty said in a video posted to his social media accounts. The video included an interview he conducted with FCA.
“I realized that God had given me a great talent,” he said. “I was able to do a lot of great things with it, but at the same time I was able to understand that my identity is in Christ without losing myself.”
Giunty, a junior, ranked eighth in yards per game (112) last season and chose to stay at Boise State rather than transfer to a big-name school, which could earn him more NIL money. It could have been done. He said at the time that Boise State “changed my life by believing in me when no one else did. I love this city and the people here.”
He was raised in a Christian home in Texas.
“My mother and father instilled in me faith when I was a child,” he said. “Growing up, I never understood what it meant to have a relationship with God. I felt like I was becoming more religious than spiritual. One day, God I decided to open up and really make a difference.”
He said Boise State has allowed his faith to grow and flourish.
“My first year here was definitely the hardest. I left my family and traveled thousands of miles to Boise where it was cold. I mean, I'm from Texas. I like hot weather. , I just had to deal with a lot of changes,” he said. “I went into deep depression and didn't really have a strong relationship with God. But once I decided to give my life to God and change my ways, it was the ultimate change after coming here. Coach, teammates.'' People all over town are just asking me if I'm going to church or asking me what my faith is.
“Even before I stepped foot on this campus, I knew God had a hand in this program,” Jeanty added. “I found out that Christianity is a big thing here and that they are really religious. And you don't have to be perfect to come to God, all you have to do is trust Him and have faith. That's what I'm doing right now, and God will change your life.
“Of course, I was able to do some great things on the field. But beyond that, he changed my life. He changed my outlook and personality. I wasn't really a man before. I was just a boy, but now I feel like I'm a man and a man of God.”
Photo provided by: ©Instagram/Deuce.2x_
michael faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His articles have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star, and Knoxville News Sentinel.
