Written by Christian Lysek
Leonard Fournette has been the face of college football since he stepped on LSU's campus as a freshman. Rarely does any prospect enter any school with as much hype as Fournette did, but even fewer players live up to the hype. Fournette did. His running ability carried the Tiger's offense and ensured that Fournette would go down as one of college football's greatest players. Now, as he goes to the NFL, he has solidified the first running back spot on my big board. Here's why:
Measurables:
Height- 6'1''
Weight- 230 lbs
Year:
Junior (21)
2016 stat line:
129 carries, 843 rushing yards (6.5 YPC), 8 rushing TDs, 15 receptions, 146 receiving yards
Pros: Leonard Fournette, physically speaking, is the perfect running back. He has the size to run over defenders and be used in goal line situations. He also has the speed to pull away from even the fastest defenders. Fournette is special in more ways than physical, though. He has very good vision and is skilled at finding holes if they are present. Once he sees the hole, he explodes through with great acceleration and power. He then is able to get past defenders using all sorts of moves such as jukes, stiff-arms, spins, and just running them over. Fournette finishes every run with violence, punishing defenders and often willing his way to the end zone or first down marker. Fournette also has receiving ability as a dump off or screen target and can block effectively on passing downs.
Cons: Nagging injuries are the main concern with Fournette. An ankle injury limited him to seven games this past season so he will have to show more durability to succeed in the league. Fournette also has some fumble issues and will have to clean up his carrying technique so it is tighter to his chest. While he is a capable blocker and receiver, he could stand to improve his technique in both areas to be a more well rounded player.
Pro Comparison: Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Is Peterson the best blocker or receiver? No. Does Peterson fumble the ball too much? Yes. Would anyone pass up the chance of having AP in his prime? Hell no. Peterson is one of the best pure runners in NFL history and used speed and power to dominate defenses. Fournette is a similar size and runs a style similar to Peterson, and he has the same ceiling as the future Hall of Famer.
3 teams that could use him: The Carolina Panthers need to take pressure off Cam Newton, and Jonathan Stewart is not getting the job done. They would be smart to plug in Fournette and destroy defenses using their read option plays. TJ Yeldon and Chris Ivory are not getting the job done for the Jaguars, so putting in Fournette could restore their offense to what it was in 2015. The Colts or Eagles will have the 14th pick in the draft, and if Fournette is on the board, whichever team has the sooner pick should take him to take pressure off of their young star quarterbacks.
Conclusion: Leonard Fournette is the best running back prospect in years. He is a top 15 pick who should explode in the league with his speed and power.
All stats from www.sports-reference.com
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