LSU Football: 10 Players the Tigers Can’t Afford to Lose

Oct 17, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) carries the ball past Florida Gators defensive back Keanu Neal (42) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Florida 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) carries the ball past Florida Gators defensive back Keanu Neal (42) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Florida 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1 Leonard Fournette

Surprise, surprise.

Simply put, without Leonard Fournette, LSU’s hopes for a national title can immediately be taken off the table.

Buga Nation, the 2013 USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year, the No.1 recruit of the 2014 signing class, “the next Adrian Peterson”, “the LeBron James of football”, is the player that the Tigers should be most afraid of losing.

The simple fact that you are browsing this website leads me to believe that you are familiar with Mr. Fournette’s work. No doubt, he arrived to Death Valley with plenty of hype. A lot. However, he has lived up to and even surpassed the expectations that newspapers and football pundits first set for him early on in his high school career.

Fournette is the fourth most prolific runner in LSU history already after only two seasons as a Tiger. He led the SEC and the NCAA in rushing YPG with a jaw dropping 162.8 yards per game. He finished the year with 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns, somehow doing this even though often every single fan, coach and player watching the game knew that he was getting the ball.

More useful than anything for understanding Fournette’s pairing of grace and power is watching him at work. So, if you are concerned about the status of LSU football, are feeling nostalgic about college football, or simply just want to see a spectacular highlight reel, watch the video below.

Next: LSU Football: Ten Tigers Named to Preseason All-SEC Teams

Who do you think are the most valuable LSU football players? Agree or disagree with some of the choices above? Sound off in the comment section below or Tweet at me—@Andrey__Burin.