Suffice to say, Leonard Fournette is the “it” player in college football for the 2015 season. And rightly so, actually, as the LSU running back’s not only the best player at this level of football but he’s one of the most talented to ever play the game.
Don’t take my word for it, though. Take it from a man who’s been there, done that.
“He’s better than I was,” 1982 Heisman winner and former Georgia great Hershel Walker told TMZ Sports.
That’s quite the statement given the legacy left by Walker in Athens.
Walker rushed for 1,616 yards as a true freshman in 1980, then posted 1,891 and 1,752 yards the next two seasons before leaving the Bulldogs early for the professional ranks. Speaking of leaving early, PFT‘s Mike Florio stirred up the gumbo Wednesday morning by posting that Fournette, who won’t be eligible for the NFL draft until 2017, should sit out the 2016 season instead of risking injury ahead of what’s expected to be a lucrative pro career.
While not specifically addressing that tack, Walker did have some advice for the young man.
“It’s a bad idea to talk about leaving early, just wait and your time will come,” the ex-Bulldog told the gossip website.
Selfishly, I’d like Fournette to stay in the college game for another two seasons; as it is, Fournette Will Likely play one more season in Baton Rouge and bolt. Still, the NFL rule barring a player from making himself eligible for the draft before he’s three years removed from high school, which Maurice Clarett infamously and unsuccessfully fought, will be challenged again at some point. And, when it comes to a player like Fournette, who’s as NFL-ready as Walker was as a sophomore, a very compelling case could be made in court.
Interestingly, though, Fournette himself thinks he needs another year mentally at the collegiate level.
When LFournette told me he didn’t think sophs should be eligible for draft I was slightly surprised. But he had clearly thought it through.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) September 30, 2015
When Leonard Fournette says he believes a player may be physically ready but not mentally ready to be a pro 2 yrs after HS that’s relevant
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) September 30, 2015
Fournette seems to understand what’s best for his situation. And, for that, we should all applaud him.
