(Update: with 1/3 to 1/4 of the college football season complete, we re-publish our piece from New Year’s Eve 2014, in which we declared Leonard Fournette the Heisman Trophy front-runner for this season. With the season’s first month done, Fournette has lived up to this prediction and much much more. He’s far surpassed even our expectations)
LSU Tigers Freshman tailback Leonard Fournette is the new Melvin Gordon for 2015. Actually, Leonard Fournette is going to be more Leonard Fournette than anyone else, because he is a transcendent running back. The combination he possesses, of speed and power makes him a collegiate runner whose career (if he stayed all four years, which he won’t) could end up on parallel with Ron Dayne.
He’s also surrounded by tons of future NFL talent, so the sky is the limit for him in 2015.
The nation saw what he did to that poor Texas A&M defender on Thanksgiving night; just BOWLING him over. So we’re all aware of the five-star recruit’s intimidating size. With the 100 yard kickoff return TD, and the 89 yard sprint from scrimmage to the house versus Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl, now America is well aware of his speed too.
LSU Coach Les Miles on Leonard Fournette:
“very physically gifted runner who has great speed, won the 100 meters in the state track meet, he’s a guy who understand his role and continues to mature.”
Fournette became just the second runner is LSU history to rush for over 1,000 yards as a freshman. He had 143 yards rushing, on just 11 carries, in Music City today. With 121 kickoff return yards, that gives him 254 all purpose yards for the game.
“I think Leonard Fournette distinguished himself in this game, a very special player,” said Miles after the Tigers lost to Notre Dame 31-28 in the Music City Bowl.
It could be a special year for Fournette and the Bayou Bengals, as they’ll receive a preseason top 10 ranking. This of course hinges on the future of Defensive Coordinator John Chavis, who could leave to take the Texas A&M job. Either way, the Tigers will have a very strong defense, as they have a penchant for shutting down dual threat quarterbacks. Their blueprint for shutting down Johnny Manziel has been copied by the Cincinnati Bengals, and will be mimicked by all NFL teams playing Cleveland from here on out.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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