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When you’re being compared to names like Michael Jordan and Adrian Peterson, it’s going to be tough to live up to expectations. It’s even tougher when you’re a freshman making your college debut. If those are the standards we’re judging by, though, Leornard Fournette certainly underperformed in the first game of a career that fans hope will include lots of trophies and smashed records.
Les Miles didn’t feel that way, though. He praised the frosh for his performance, even though Fournette’s line of eight carries for 18 yards against Wisconsin was lacking for highlights.
“I think he did great,” Miles said in his weekly SEC teleconference. “Anybody that expected more from him than exactly how he played, they just basically have unrealistic expectations.”
Miles is one of the operators of the Fournette hype train, but his point stands. Fournette, despite his outstanding size and speed, is still a freshman and will need some time to adapt to the college game. Saturday against Sam Houston State could well be the time for him to get comfortable.
That pro-ready size that Fournette possesses will be a major boon against Sam Houston’s smaller defense. The Bearkats don’t have a single linebacker as heavy as Fournette’s listed weight of 230 lbs. If Fournette can show patience that he seemed to lack in his debut, he’ll be able to lower his shoulders and run some folks over once he hits the hole. Good luck tackling him with a full head of steam.
Sam Houston has allowed 5.7 yards per rush and a whopping 458 yards on the ground total in their first two games of the season, so even if they sell out to stop the run it might not be enough to slow down LSU’s running game. The Bearkats haven’t been good against the pass either, so finding ways to get Fournette the ball on screens and swing passes could be a good way to get him and the rest of the offense rolling.
I’d be remiss to not mention the stable of running backs that Fournette shares the backfield with. Kenny Hilliard, who had an underwhelming 2013, busted out in the fourth quarter against Wisconsin and is listed at the top of the depth chart for week two. Terrence Magee, listed as Hilliard’s co-starter, struggled in the opening week win and will need some carries of his own to get going. With the quarterback situation still very fluid and the potential for a blowout, there should still be plenty of carries to go around.
Regardless of what Miles says, there’s going to be hype around Fournette all year, and likely for his entire career in Baton Rouge. Hopefully for LSU coaches and fans, it won’t be long until he starts living up to it.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
