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Thrust into the thick of the Heisman Trophy race, LSU running back Leonard Fournette has ascended into national prominence.
That’s a natural consequence after gaining 387 yards and scoring six touchdowns through two games.
After improving to 2-0 against back-to-back ranked SEC opponents to begin the season, Fournette and No. 8 LSU are set to hit the road to take on Syracuse in a non-conference showdown on Saturday at the Carrier Dome in Upstate New York.
Fournette has averaged 193.5 rushing yards per game this year while his team as a whole has averaged 338.5 yards on the ground. The Tigers are preparing for a Syracuse defense that has surrendered only 140 yards rushing through three games, including a 1.5 yards per carry average.
The Orange (3-0) have defeated Rhode Island, Wake Forest and Central Michigan, outlasting the Chippewas 30-27 in overtime a week ago. None of Syracuse’s three opponents eclipsed 100 yards rushing. Syracuse has allowed 46.7 rushing yards per game, the third-best mark in the country behind only Boston College and Boise State.
The run defense has lifted the Orange to their first 3-0 start since 1991, before any of the football players on its current roster were even born. But what Syracuse must brace for is an LSU rushing attack unlike any the team has seen in 2015.
The Tigers have picked up 25 of their 36 first downs via running plays. LSU running backs are averaging a whopping 7.1 yards per attempt, which is fourth in the nation behind only Arizona, Baylor and Georgia Tech.
The most lethal threat, Fournette, leads all FBS running backs with 193.5 yards per game. His 387 yards thus far ranks 12th in the nation, but it’s the most among any running back that has played in only two games. Fournette’s six rushing touchdowns is second-most behind Alabama’s Derrick Henry and Boise State’s Jeremy McNichols, who share the national lead with seven.
Either way, Saturday should provide answers for both sides.
SYRACUSE ORANGE CLOSER LOOK
Top player, offense: Jordan Fredericks, Fr., RB: With quarterback Eric Dungey doubtful to play against LSU, this honor shifts over to his backfield mate Fredericks. A true freshman running back, Fredericks leads Syracuse with 202 yards rushing on 31 attempts and two touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. The freshman back topped 100 yards in the season-opener against Rhode Island and went for 73 yards and a touchdown in last week’s victory over Central Michigan.
Top player, defense: Luke Arciniega, Jr., DE: A former linebacker, Arciniega converted to the defensive line for the 2015 season. Thus far, the results have proven kind. Arciniega leads the Orange with 4.0 sacks through three games. He has also racked up eight tackles, including five for loss, one forced fumble and one quarterback hit. Consider Arciniega the key to the Syracuse pass rush and one of the reasons why the defense is so solid against the run.
Top player, special teams: Riley Dixon, Sr., P: An All-ACC selection as a junior a season ago, Dixon is near the top of all of the Syracuse record books when it comes to punting. Dixon was named the Ray Guy Award Player of the Week after Syracuse’s win over Central Michigan. In the game, he had five punts for 252 yards, including a long of 60 yards. He finished the day with a 50.4 yards per kick average.
Sam Spiegelman is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, LSU and Texas A&M.
