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Leonard Fournette’s college football career has come to its official end.
Fournette announced that he will not play in the bowl game, and will instead concentrate on the NFL draft. Ross Dellenger has the story for the Advocate.
From the article:
"I want to thank Coach O and LSU for the decision, not letting me play," Fournette said during an address to reporters announcing the decision. "It’s best for my future. I want to thank LSU overall for the best experience I’ve had. It’s a hurtful feeling we had the season that we had. I didn’t get the opportunity to play to my full potential."
That is a bittersweet quote, and Fournette is clearly referencing the injury plagued junior season he just completed. He suffered an ankle sprain before the season began, and while he gamely tried to play through the injury, he never was fully healthy this season. It’s a shame we missed out on that one last great season.
But instead of focusing on the negatives, let’s focus on all of the great memories he has given us. Leonard Fournette was a mythic player, and his three years now move on to lore.
He finished his LSU career with 3,830 yards on 616 carries. That ranks fourth all-time in total rushing, and all three players ahead of him on the all-time list have over 800 carries. His 6.2 yards/attempt is the all-time LSU record for any back with at least 250 carries, narrowly edging out Jeremy Hill.
We here at And the Valley Shook wish Fournette all of the best on his pro career and thank him for the outstanding college career. He was, simply, a joy to watch, and we will miss him.
Buga.