Fansided

5 reasons Leonard Fournette can win the 2016 Heisman

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 12, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles embraces running back Leonard Fournette (7) after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. LSU won 21-19. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles embraces running back Leonard Fournette (7) after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. LSU won 21-19. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Slimming down for Les Miles

Did Leonard Fournette need to lose weight? Probably not, but head coach Les Miles stated that he would like his star to drop about five or 10 pounds to maintain that elusiveness that he had in 2015.

Miles said that in an interview with Paul Finebaum, and Fournette had a classic response, tweeting at his head coach that he had lost weight for him. Going down to 225 might not seem like a significant change, but any more elusiveness and quickness is bad news for opponents.

Last year, Fournette’s highlight tape was about as ridiculous as any in college football and if his head coach thinks he can be even better, then everyone should beware of what’s next.

The two premier running backs in college football for the 2016 season have to be Dalvin Cook of Florida State and Fournette. One is losing weight to become an even more dominant rusher, and it’s not Cook.

Could you imagine a more explosive Fournette in 2016? That has to mean his 6.5 yards per carry from 2015 will only increase and he will become a much more dynamic player than last year’s Heisman winner, Derrick Henry of Alabama.

Will the slimmer Fournette be an even bigger force in 2016? I think so.

Next: 4. LSU a contender

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