BOISE, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
The memes started two days after Boise State’s 62-30 win against Utah State.
On Oct. 7, an account on X, formerly known as Twitter, posted a picture of Bronco running back Ashton Jeanty standing straight up in the backfield as the ball was snapped. The post featured the caption “Ashton Jeanty stands like Michael Myers in the backfield,” referring to the character from the slasher film series Halloween.
In the two-plus weeks since, the post has been viewed over 2 million times with several other people making their own statements about the stance. Even Jeanty himself got in on the fun, donning the mask Myers wears in that film during the Broncos’ bye week last week.
“I’ve been having a little fun with the Michael Myers comparisons,” Jeanty said during a Zoom press conference on Wednesday. “I think it’s really funny and being the month of October and with Halloween coming up, I got to take advantage of that, for sure.”
But just why exactly does Jeanty, who said if not for the meme likely would have likely dressed as Spiderman for Halloween, have such a stance?
Turns out, it’s simply a matter of comfort.
“For me, it’s about being relaxed in the stance,” Jeanty said. “One of my coaches used to say if you couldn’t stand in that stance for five minutes, then it’s probably not a good stance. So (it’s about) being relaxed and comfortable and at that point, I’m just reading the defense and waiting for the ball to snap. I wouldn’t say there’s anything to specific about it, just that I’m relaxed and comfortable and I’m just ready to make a play for my team.”
Jeanty said he’s had that stance since high school, although several coaches in the past have tried to get in a lower position.
Now, nobody is trying to make him change his stance.
“I just have a rule, if you don’t false step with your footwork, you can stand however you want,” said running backs coach James Montgomery. "He likes to stand like that, so he can stand like that. But no, I don’t teach the stance. If you can get out of your step without false stepping, we’re good.”
The stance has served Jeanty well this season, as he enters Friday night’s game at UNLV leading the nation with 1,248 rushing yards, an average of 208 yards per game, and has 17 rushing touchdowns. Those numbers have made him the betting favorite to win the Heisman trophy.
Those numbers have also drawn Jeanty comparisons to not just horror film characters, but football legends, as well. He’s been compared to USC Heisman winner Reggie Bush, and perhaps more notably Barry Sanders, with regards to his record-breaking 1988 season at Oklahoma State.
Jeanty is on pace to challenge Sanders’ NCAA records in both for yards (2,628) and touchdowns (37).
“It’s amazing, I’ve watched Barry Sanders all the time, Reggie Bush highlights all the time,” said Jeanty. “Those are some of the best to ever play the game. To be mentioned in the same sentence as them, that’s a dream come true as a running back.”
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.