LSU running back Leonard Fournette still improving

LSU running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette was better in a number of areas as a sophomore, and is going to continue his ascent in ’16…

LSU running back Leonard Fournette is going to be the focus of every football fan in the country this season, and for good reason. The 6-1, 230 pound junior proved last year as a sophomore that the hype surrounding him coming into college was legit, rushing for nearly 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

Fournette’s game evolved in an incredible way from his freshman to sophomore year, not unexpectedly. He’s always had the raw physical talent, but he started putting the ‘little’ things in play in 2015, like being patient in the red zone and waiting for blocks to develop, earning him over 100 more carries than he received as a true freshman in 2014.

The improvement showed up on the field, obviously, but the numbers tell us all we need to know. Fournette was dominant last year in the red zone, scoring 15 of his 22 rushing touchdowns inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He scored seven touchdowns as a freshman from inside the opponents’ 20-yard line on 33 attempts. He scored more than double that amount on 42 attempts in 2015.

Fournette also became a threat running on third down, averaging four yards per carry on that particular down compared to 1.6 YPC the year prior.

The All-American also proved he was still the big play threat everyone anticipated he would be, showing off his deep speed at 230 pounds to the tune of 59 runs last year of 10 or more yards, 18 runs of 20 or more yards. He was tied for 1st in the country with his 59 runs of 10 or more yards and 5th in 20+ yard runs. His 22 touchdowns ranked him fourth in the country, and he did all of this having played in three fewer games than Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry of Alabama.

Fournette is certainly a fun player to watch on the field, but off the field, he’s generating a ton of positive publicity as well, receiving the 2015-16 SEC Sportsmanship Award this offseason. He’s also father to a beautiful daughter named Lyric…

This young man continues to impress. He’s going to certainly be one of the most coveted players in the 2017 NFL Draft, but for now, the landscape of college football and LSU fans are lucky to be able to watch him for another season as he continues to get better and better — on and off the field.