Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate as the best running back in college football and his terrifying presence in the backfield draws comparison to Michael Myers. The 22-year-old ball-carrier stands completely vertical and relaxed just like the fictional film character when he is stalking his next victim.
It is just as scary for the teams that are tasked with stopping him!!
Jeanty, a junior, is casually averaging 9.9 yards per carry this season. He amassed more than 1,200 yards in just six games— and those numbers come with a major asterisk that actually make them even more impressive than they look. Boise State took him out of the game at halftime on more than one occasion so he has not reached his full potential. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound ball-carrier ran for 217 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries during his worst game of the season.
Needless to say, Jeanty is a literal nightmare for opposing defenses. Thus, the slasher film comparison makes a lot of sense.
Michael Myers, the primary antagonist of the ‘Halloween‘ series, is (in)famous for his menacing presence in the shadows. He is discovered just beyond a hedge in the most iconic scene from the original movie in 1978.
Filmmaker John Carpenter later juxtaposed the mass murderer with mundane, every day life by placing him in the middle of a washing line outside of his victim’s home. Myer always showed patience in stalking his prey, which makes him seem more calculated than a mindless killer.
There is also this well-known image, where the killer’s silhouette is seen outside of his victim’s home:
The way Jeanty looks in the backfield is eerily similar to Myers.
Ashton Jeanty is out for blood!
He stands completely vertical with his arms by his side. He does not get in a ready position.
It’s rather unusual, but obviously, it works.
In the same way that Michael Myers stalks his victim before a kill, Ashton Jeanty stalks the defense before running through them. Their stances are practically identical.
Other memes are just as funny but not quite as precise:
Ashton Jeanty in the backfield pic.twitter.com/2K9LS4MO9P
— nellson (watching got s5) (@nellychillin) October 12, 2024
ashton jeanty in the backfield: https://t.co/SPWNknrqak
— mike (@MikeMinogue18) October 15, 2024
When asked about the unusual stance, Jeanty explained that it comes from his utmost confidence in his teammates. He knows the defense can’t tackle him.
"I'm just back there, relaxed. I know my O-line, my receivers, my tight ends."
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) October 13, 2024
— @BroncoSportsFB Ashton Jeanty on his standing stance in the backfield before carrying the ball 🧍♂️ pic.twitter.com/5ZAJ7H9HLG
Ashton Jeanty is the Michael Myers of college football.