2025 BOISE STATE SPRING BREAKDOWN PT5 RUNNING BACK GROUP
Running Backs
By: Grant Michael
Not to burst anyone’s bubble for this upcoming season, but I don’t see any of the current Boise State running backs having a season like Ashton Jeanty did. The season Ashton Jeanty had last year was nothing short of amazing, entertaining, mind boggling and totally historic. #2 finished the 2024 season with 2,601 rushing yards, a mere 1,008 inches shy of God in cleats, Barry Sanders, all-time NCAA rushing record. In Ashton’s 374 carries, he only lost 3 fumbles through an elbow injury and mostly running against an 8-man box. Jeanty and his O-line catapulted him into a Heisman campaign, quite frankly, he should have won. Ashton finished second behind the University of Colorado’s Travis Hunter, whose two-way ability and the power of Deion Sanders, allowed him to win.
Not even the legendary Kellen Moore, who is THE all-time winningest Quarterback in college football history, finished in the top 3 of the Heisman voting. Thank you Ashton… Now let us pray he doesn’t wind up with the Cowboys…
Let’s look and see what Coach Montgomery and the Broncos have on the books in the Boise State RB room for the 2025 season.
Notable Names:
Left: Ashton Jeanty (NFL) … I must pause for a moment of silence…
Returning: Jambres Dubar (Jr.), Sire Gaines (R-Fr), Dylan Riley (So)
New: Malik Sherrod (6th), Greg Ard (Fr)
Coming off a season where Jambres (Breezy) Dubar could never quite get healthy, I fully believe that Dubar will have a bounce-back season. During his freshman campaign, Dubar rushed for 335 yards, 2 touchdowns, and averaged a stout 5.4 yards percarry. What really separates Dubar from other running backs is his ability to run north and south. Dubar has the kind of speed that when he finds an opening, there’s a good chance, he can go the Jeanty… I mean distance.
In other news (or lack there of), we haven’t heard much about Sire Gaines. Gaines has yet to suit up for any of the Broncos’Spring practices, still healing from last year’s injury. In ’24, the true freshman flashed glimpses of playmaking ability. Before getting hurt in Boise State’s third game of the season, Gaines racked up 156 yards and 1 touchdown on only 20 carries.
A running back to keep your eyes on this year is 6th year senior Malik Sherrod who transferred in from Fresno state. If the name Sherrod sounds familiar, it’s because in 2023 Sherrod ran for 132 yards, 1 rushing touchdown and had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against us. Sherrod was a determining factor in Fresno’s victory over the Broncos. Sherrod is showing out early in camp as an explosive athlete who will be making an impact on both offense and the kick return team.
I would expect multiple running backs to be key contributors to the Boise State offense this year. Boise State has been a run-first team for as far back as I can remember. I would not expect the new Offensive Coordinator, Nate Potter, to change that anytime soon. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Potter sprinkle in some two running back formations this year as he has a lot of tools to work with in the backfield. We’ll obviously have a new look without one of the greatest college running backs ever, but don’t worry, the Broncos will still be a ground force to recon with.