Jarring numbers show just how well Alabama has limited Leonard Fournette
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Leonard Fournette’s past struggles against Alabama have been well documented.
But when you put those performances side-by-side with the rest of his college career, what the Crimson Tide has been able to do to the junior running back is truly staggering.
Math is hard, especially in the morning. The original numbers were right.
Fournette vs. #Bama
Fournette vs. everyone else#LSU pic.twitter.com/Zf3jrRzvhB
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 3, 2016
The numbers are pretty incredible no matter which ones you look at. Against any team other than Alabama, Fournette has averaged 131 yards at a rate of nearly 7 yards a rush.
But in two games versus the Crimson Tide, he has rushed for less than half his career average yards per carry and 76 yards less than his career average yards per game.
Fournette actually had a decent game as a freshman in 2014, rushing for 79 yards on 21 carries. But last year’s edition of the rivalry was the worst outing of his career, a 19-carry, 31-yard performance that effectively took him out of the running for the Heisman Trophy.
Fournette could be in for more of the same when LSU and Alabama meet this weekend. The Crimson Tide boasts the nation’s top rushing defense by a large margin, holding opponents to a mere 70 yards on the ground per game.
Tigers interim coach Ed Orgeron said earlier this week Fournette is the “most motivated” player on the team for this weekend’s game. We’ll see if that helps him reverse the trend when No. 13 LSU hosts No. 1 Alabama at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
