Ad Disclosure
Leonard Fournette is one of the best running backs in LSU history.
Midway through his junior season, Fournette is just 900 career rushing yards shy of Kevin Faulk’s school rushing record of 4,557. Despite falling short of Heisman expectations, the Tigers’ back is still having a stellar season, even after missing three games.
Fournette currently has 670 yards and 5 touchdowns on 83 carries. He’s managed to rush for 100 yards in each game he’s played, including a 284-yard, 3-touchdown performance against Ole Miss in his first game back in a month. At this rate, Fournette will record 1,000 yards for the third consecutive year, even with a trio of missed games.
The New Orleans native is a once-in-a-generation player who has drawn comparisons to Adrian Peterson even before playing a down of college football as the nation’s consensus No. 1 prospect. And even with the loftiest of expectations, Fournette has managed to live up to the hype.
But there is one thing that’s eluded the decorated back during his college career: a big performance against Alabama. He will get a chance to have one on Saturday when LSU hosts the Tide. But so far, the star back has struggled against Alabama’s stout rushing defense.
In fact, Fournette’s performance against the Tide was so underwhelming that it effectively ended what seemed to be a runaway Heisman campaign in 2015.
The junior back has totaled 110 yards and one touchdown on 4o carries against the Tide. In 2014, he was held to 79 yards on 21 attempts, which isn’t terrible but was still the fifth-lowest yards per carry average his career, coming in a season in which he was steadily becoming the team’s primary option.
Last season, prior to the Alabama game, he recorded 150 or more yards in all seven appearances. But he was held to 31 yards and one touchdown on 19 attempts against the Tide, which coincided with Derrick Henry rushing for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Fournette may play like Superman against most teams, but the Alabama rushing defense has been his kryptonite so far. Not that it should be too much of a surprise. If anyone is going to slow down Fournette, it’s a rushing defense that has entered the LSU matchup ranked No. 1 in the FBS during each of the past two seasons.
But with college football, there is folklore. Considering the game’s top individual award, the Heisman Trophy, takes “signature performances” against great teams into account even more than statistics, it’s hard not to acknowledge Fournette’s struggles against the Tide, even with a historically great defense.
Regardless, Fournette will be remembered as one of the best backs in LSU history even with a mediocre performance on Saturday. It’s still possible that he could rush for 901 yards during his next five games, assuming LSU doesn’t lose out and makes a bowl game appearance. That would be enough to break the school record in just three seasons, which would have likely happened easily had it not been for his numerous ankle injuries.
But the Alabama performance will still be crucial. There will still be doubters who call into question his “clutch” factor, as if no other elite back has struggled against the Tide defense. That’s just how it works.
I’m of the belief that big players step up in big games. Fournette has done that otherwise, but Alabama is the one exception. Granted, it’s hard to get a running back going when you’re playing from behind.
Maybe this year will be different. LSU’s offense looks revitalized under Ed Orgeron. Fournette’s first game in Coach O’s scheme resulted in a career-best rushing performance. He also seemed to have recovered from his ankle injury, so there shouldn’t be any excuses about his status.
Fournette is easily one of the most talented running backs to play in the SEC in decades regardless of his performance against the Tide, but make no mistake, Saturday’s gane will affect his legacy.
A big performance will boost his reputation in a big way, but another subpar game will label him as not good enough against the best defense of his time, whether justifiable or not.
Jason covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
