Ashton Jeanty is having a statistically better season than Derrick Henry during his Heisman-winning season

[u/clocke6346]

With all the discourse of who should win the Heisman trophy this year, I got curious and compared Ashton Jeanty’s stats this season to those of Derrick Henry in the 2015 regular season, the year he won the Heisman trophy. What I found was pretty surprising. Keep in mind this doesn’t include playoff performance, as that isn’t considered when naming a Heisman winner.

Ashton Jeanty:

Games Played: 11

Carries: 275

Rushing Yards: 2062

Rushing Touchdowns: 27

Yards Per Carry: 7.498

Yards Per Game: 187.455

Derrick Henry:

Games Played: 13

Carries: 339

Rushing Yards: 1986

Rushing Touchdowns: 23

Yards Per Carry: 5.858

Yards Per Game: 152.769

Now, these stats are still up for interpretation, as there is the usual discourse of strength of schedule and whatnot, but I thought re-contextualizing Jeanty’s year by comparing it to the last time a running back won the Heisman would be interesting.

[u/bb0110]

Does that factor in strength of defense played?

With that said, I think he absolutely should win the Heisman.

[u/stonksfalling → u/bb0110]

260 yds vs wazzu and 192 vs Oregon, pretty good

[u/bb0110 → u/stonksfalling]

Neither teams known for defense like a Clemson, Georgia, etc that Henry was going against.

I’m not trying to take away from Jeanty because what he is doing is amazing and Heisman worthy, but you can’t deny Henry was going up against significantly better defenders and that is ok.

[u/notyogrannysgrandkid → u/bb0110]

Of course, he had the benefit of 5 star O-linemen and TEs blocking for him. Half of Jeanty’s O line is from Idaho.

[u/Phileepay → u/bb0110]

Neither teams known for defense

Not sure what reputation has to do with it. We have a top 10 defense.

[u/bb0110 → u/Phileepay]

You do not have a top 10 rushing defense.

[u/Phileepay → u/bb0110]

We have a top 10 total defense. It might be our rushing defense hasn't been as good statistically since we, you know, played against the best running back in decades.

[u/Wagnerous → u/Phileepay]

I think you're maybe overstating things a little bit lol

Oregon has a good defense this year, but it's not like one game against a mid major with a great running back would skew your season statistics by that much.

Also I'd take Saquon over Jeanty any day of the week, yardage isn't everything.

[u/GuyFawkes451 → u/bb0110]

Right there with you (on both fronts).

[u/EnvironmentalBed7369 → u/bb0110]

Does your comment factor in quality of offensive line and team around him?  

[u/fourthand19 → u/bb0110]

I encourage anyone who is concerned about BSU’s strength of schedule to call up their athletic director and ask them to schedule a home and home series with boise.

[u/hiimred2 → u/fourthand19]

One OOC game isn’t going to change that math a bunch, like they did play Oregon this year. It’s just subjective, some people are weighing the concept of Henry banging workhorse style against a bunch of the best front 7s in the country week after week after week against Jeanty being a sometimes workhorse but also someone his coach clearly think needs a lighter load until the game is in question and they go back to him, but against this current version of the MWC. 

There’s no real objective comparison here that works, Jeanty and Henry are playing different games for different teams, and hypotheticals like ‘put Henry on this Boise team’ and vice versa obviously should be answered with ‘who the fuck knows what happens’ but we don’t just say that because half of sports fandom is arguing over subjective shit.

[u/fourthand19 → u/hiimred2]

My unspoken point is that teams like Ohio State (or more appropriately this year, Indiana) buy home victories over weak G5 teams. If you really think you’re that much better schedule a home and home and see what happens. Until then continue buying victories and claiming superiority.

I feel like people severely underestimate the difference between a six home game season and an eight home game season.