Leonard Fournette declares for 2017 NFL Draft

LSU Tigers star junior running back Leonard Fournette will forgo his senior season in Baton Rouge to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.

Shocking nobody, LSU Tigers star junior running back Leonard Fournette announced his intentions to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. Fournette was the No. 1 recruit in the 2014 high school recruiting class. He projects as an early to mid-first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Fournette has been undeniable loyal to LSU and took the time to leave this message on Twitter about his decision to leave Baton Rouge and go pro after his junior season.

Fournette says in his letter to the LSU fans that he will declare for the 2017 NFL Draft after the Tigers’ upcoming bowl game versus the Louisville Cardinals. LSU will play Louisville in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on New Year’s Eve.

Fournette chose to remove all doubt about if he would return to campus or not by declaring he’ll leave school a year early. He did this because he didn’t want it to be another distraction for his school and his teammates.

Entering the NFL Draft in 2017 is a wise decision for Fournette. Star running backs of his caliber only have so many hits before they rapidly decay as runners, usually in their late 20s. Fournette’s draft stock will never be higher than it is after his junior season.

One could argue that Fournette will be the first running back off the board. He could go in the Top 10 of the 2017 NFL Draft. It would be completely shocking if he isn’t off the board before No. 17.

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Fournette wrote in his letter that he really wished he could have brought another national title to LSU. He unfortunately enrolled at LSU during the chaotic end to the Les Miles era in Baton Rouge. Fournette is glad that his alma mater seems to be in good hands with new head coach Ed Orgeron going forward.