What a 2015 season LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette had.
1,202 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns – his productivity served coach Les Miles extremely well.
What’s that? There’s more than half a season to go? Oh boy.
On September 4th, Fournette was a $13 chance to win the Heisman Trophy – currently, he’s listed at $1.50 with Sports Bet (I’m so glad I decided to wait a few weeks when the $13 was on offer – NOT!)
After their season-opening game at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge was cancelled due to bad weather, Fournette has run through, around, past, over and on top of any defender who has dared stand between him and his target.
At 6-1″ and 230lbs (104kg), LSU’s workhorse back is averaging a stunning 200.3 rushing yards per game.
The numbers are dazzling and the only thing that surpasses his statistics are watching his feats live.
With the Tigers getting only mediocre quarterback play, all of the defence’s attention is always on No. 7.
It hasn’t bothered Fournette one little bit.
In Syracuse’s Carrier Dome, the New Orleans native rushed for a career-high 244 yards as well as two scores.
Remarkably, he also ripped off an 87-yard touchdown late in the match that was nullified by a penalty.
Effectively, against the Orange, Fournette’s box score should have been 331 yards and three scores!
Fournette is yet to dip below 150 yards in a game this year despite seeing opponents such as Auburn, Florida and South Carolina – all fellow SEC combatants.
In an always loaded SEC West conference, Fournette’s Tigers are undefeated at 4-0.
As mentioned, the quarterback Brandon Harris is only average and rarely throws the ball.
LSU’s receivers are talented, namely Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre, but suffer from inconsistent throws and minimal targets from Harris.
Defensively, the Tigers are strong but have given up 23 points per game.
Having said all that, there is one, sole reason for LSU’s brilliant, undefeated start and its name is Leonard Fournette.
He is on pace to obliterate LSU school records and has a chance at breaking some all-time SEC rushing records.
Charles Alexander punched out 1,686 yards in 1977 which still stands as the LSU single-season rushing record but only sits sixth all-time in the SEC.
That record is held by the great Georgia back Herschel Walker’s 1,891 yards, which he set in 1981.
Seemingly the only thing that can slow Fournette down is the formidable in-conference schedule that lays in wait for the Tigers.
This week, Western Kentucky should provide the team with a decent opponent but Fournette should have no problems tearing through the line for more big runs and likely a couple of touchdowns as he is yet to have a scoreless game in 2015.
Following the date with the Hilltoppers, LSU faces arch-rival and powerhouse Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
That will be Fournette’s biggest test with the Crimson Tide boasting a stout defensive front, as well as one of the premier defensive-minded college coaches in Nick Saban.
Following the Tigers meeting with UWK and subsequent road clash with ‘Bama, LSU face Arkansas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, throughout a gruelling November schedule.
Of course, there are other NCAA players rolling out excellent, Heisman Trophy-worthy performances.
Alabama’s Derrick Henry also possesses numbers that would be All-SEC 1st Team worthy come season’s end, despite only having played seven games.
In The Huddle AU podcaster Drew Akin – a wildly fanatical Alabama fan – refers to Henry as ‘Half Man-Half Rhino’ due to his running style and physique.
Henry has 152 carries for 901 yards and already a dozen touchdowns.
The numbers are impressive but with an extra game in hand, Fournette’s extra 301 yards and two scores clearly place him above Henry, at least for now.
The other two Heisman candidates as we reach the midway point of the season are Baylor’s quarterback and wide receiver duo of —- and Corey Coleman and TCU’s star passer Trevone Boykin.
Boykin – a Dallas native – has already dished out 25 touchdowns to only five picks for the undefeated Horned Frogs.
The 6-2″ playmaker has gone above 400 yards three times already and has chalked up 440 yards on the ground with a five cheeky rushing scores.
Baylor QB Seth Russell may not be the premier NFL draft prospect but he is flourishing in the Bears uptempo offence.
The Texas kid had been having a solid season up until the Bears clash with West Virginia this past weekend.
In the 62-38 drubbing, Russell exploded for 380 passing yards with five scores as well as 160 yards on the ground with another touchdown.
Russell’s favourite target is Coleman, a junior for the Bears, has benefited most from the dynamic offence with 16 receiving touchdowns to his name.
His 5-11″ frame has been a non-factor with Coleman racking up 877 yards off of only 41 receptions.
Historically, it has been a shocking award for wide receivers to win and despite his outrageous numbers early in the year, Coleman would be a long-shot winner.
So, despite the gaudy numbers being posted by Henry, Russell, Coleman, Boykin and others in the NCAAF, Fournette is the Heisman Trophy winner as of October 21 – and it’s not even that close!
As the stretch run of the college football season begins and the conference schedules heat up dramatically, it will be just as enjoyable following Fournette’s run toward history as it will be to see who makes the college playoffs.
Enjoy these Leonard Fournette highlights and Geaux Tigers!
Josh Jenkins Sports 