Leonard Fournette to skip LSU bowl game, prepare for NFL Draft
By Jason Parker
Leonard Fournette has called it a career in college football after announcing he won’t play in LSU’s Citrus Bowl game against Louisville.
For those of you that are planning on being inside Camping World Stadium in Orlando on New Year’s Eve, hoping to catch a glimpse of LSU running back Leonard Fournette in his final college game…well, I’ve got some bad news for you.
Fournette, likely one of the top picks in next April’s NFL Draft, has decided that he will take the bowl game off and focus on rehabbing his ankle — one that kept him out of several games this season — for his NFL career.
He made the announcement during a press conference Friday alongside of LSU’s new permanent head coach, Ed Orgeron:
LF: This is one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, not playing in the bowl, but it's best for me and my future.
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) December 16, 2016
LF: It was hard telling the guys. I love them dearly. You grow so close together through this. I'll forever thank them and support them.
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) December 16, 2016
LF: I would say my ankle is about 85-90 percent so it's getting better. But there still work to do.
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) December 16, 2016
Now, there are two ways you can look at this story. One is from the side of Fournette – without a doubt one of the five best players in all of college football over the past three years (when healthy) who when 100 percent has the potential to be a great running back at the NFL level.
On the other side, it can’t help but look a bit like No. 7 is quitting on his team when they might need him the most. After finishing the season 2-2 in November and heading into the bowl game where they are now likely going to become the underdog to Lamar Jackson and the Louisville Cardinals, you can be willing to bet some Tigers teammates are going to understand the move — but still feel betrayed.
Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best RB of All-Time
Fournette finishes his career in Baton Rouge with 3,830 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns on the ground. After going for just under 2,000 yards and 22 scores last year, big things were expected in 2016 — but Fournette missed five games and ended the year with just over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.