The best thing to happen to LSU RB Leonard Fournette ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft didn’t have anything to do with him or his performance on the field.

No, the former Tiger benefitted the most from the play of Dallas Cowboys rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

By running for an NFL-leading 1,631 yards as a rookie, Elliott proved running backs still have an important place in the league and can immediately help teams that take a chance early in the first round.

Now Fournette is in a position to be the 2017 version of Elliott and will likely be drafted early. According to NOLA.com, Fournette has fans in the form of NFL legends like LaDainian Tomlinson, who still holds the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season (with 28 in 2006).

Tomlinson said Fournette has a chance to make a similar impact to Elliott heading into next year:

“I think he’s a guy much like Ezekiel that could step in right away and possibly be a Pro Bowl guy,” said former Chargers great LaDainian Tomlinson. “(He can) be a guy that can be right up there in the leaders for rushing champion because he has that ability. Now it depends on where he goes and plays, like what the team will look like and how they build the team around him, but I think the sky is the limit for Leonard.”

Tomlinson went on to compare Fournette to NFL and SEC great Herschel Walker, citing Fournette’s deceptive speed in the open field:

“Just that downhill and run through you, good feet. And when he’s in the open field, he’s gone. Just stop running. He is gone,” he said of Fournette.

Most mock drafts have Fournette going early in the first round, with teams like the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts in need of a talented back.

Whenever Fournette hears his name called, though, he can thank Elliott for making first-round running backs cool again.