James Franklin praises Boise State's Ashton Jeanty ahead of Penn State’s CFP game

Penn State will reach the College Football Playoff semifinals if it beats Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. But in order to do that, the Nittany Lions will have to stop — or at least limit — arguably the best player in college football: Ashton Jeanty.

Jeanty will present “a definite challenge,” James Franklin said Monday. Franklin, asked about the Heisman Trophy runner-up, had high praise for the Boise State star.

“Obviously it all starts and revolves around Jeanty,” Franklin said. “In any other year, I think the guy wins the Heisman. Could make the argument he should have won it this year.”

Jeanty finished second in the Heisman voting to Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Hunter received 2,231 voting points, and Jeanty earned 2,017. It was the closest Heisman vote in more than a decade, and it was warranted.

Jeanty has rushed for 2,497 yards, leaving him 132 yards away from breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season FBS record. Jeanty is averaging 192.1 rushing yards per game and 7.3 yards per carry with 29 rushing touchdowns.

But the stat that stands out to Franklin the most? Jeanty’s yards after contact. According to Pro Football Focus, Jeanty has 1,889 yards after contact — by far the most in college football. Franklin called Jeanty’s yards after contact “a ridiculous stat.”

“It starts and ends with the running back,” Franklin said. “… He really does a lot of things really well. He can run away from you and can score from a distance. He breaks a ton of tackles. … His ability to make people miss, break tackles, finish runs is really impressive.”

We’ll find out on New Year’s Eve if Penn State’s run defense, which ranks seventh in the FBS allowing only 100.4 rushing yards per game, can contain the Heisman runner-up.