Nick Saban recalls recruiting battle with LSU for Leonard Fournette
By Jake Rill
Published:
Alabama has landed plenty of top recruits since Nick Saban became the Crimson Tide’s head coach in 2007. That’s how the program has become one of the best in the country on an annual basis.
However, that doesn’t mean that Alabama lands every recruit it goes after. There are still some top high school players who choose other schools over the Tide, taking their football careers in a different direction.
Among those recruits is running back Leonard Fournette, who ended up playing at LSU from 2014-16. And although Alabama has had other talented players in its backfield, Saban still recalls losing Fournette to the Tigers, as he broke down that recruiting battle during an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” this week.
“One of the hardest things about recruiting is that you really develop relationships with certain players as you recruit them, and it’s very disappointing when you have a close relationship with a guy and then the guy goes someplace else,” Saban said on the show (h/t Robbie Weinstein of 247Sports.com). “Not only do you have that, but now you have to play against him. That’s one of the harder things.
“Leonard Fournette comes to mind. I had a really good relationship with him. His mom made crawfish etouffee and it was the best meal and all that. You think you have a chance to get the guy and then you don’t. It’s disappointing not only because of the relationship style you develop with players but also with the family.”
After a successful career at LSU, Fournette went on to get selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons with the Jaguars before getting waived prior to the 2020 season. Then, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the start of this season.
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
