LSU football: 5 players poised for a breakout year

Oct 25, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) carries the ball past Mississippi Rebels defensive back Senquez Golson (21) in the second half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Mississippi 10-7. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Leonard Fournette

Leonard Fournette, the most-hyped high school running back prospect since Adrian Peterson, is already becoming a household name.

The bruising back has emerged as a legitimate Heisman candidate after setting LSU’s freshman rushing record with 1,034 yards during his first year with the program. With former teammates Kenny Hilliard and Terrance Magee leaving for the NFL, expect his numbers to skyrocket in 2015.

Fournette already had his coming-out party against Texas A&M and Notre Dame to end an impressive freshman campaign, exploding for 289 yards and three touchdowns on just 30 carries during the two games. He put his diverse skill set on full display, punishing potential tacklers and putting his deceiving breakaway speed to use on long touchdown runs and a memorable kickoff return.

LSU has employed a running-back-by-committee system in recent years, but with the tremendous talent that their elite sophomore running back brings to the table, they will have no choice but to make him their feature back in 2015.

The Tigers will go as far as Fournette carries them this season, and while it is rare for a 1,000-yard rusher, Maxwell Award Watch candidate and Heisman hopeful to be eligible for a breakout year, his potential greatness that we have yet to witness has earned him a spot on this list.

Next: Malachi Dupre