LSU running back Leonard Fournette is expected to return from an injury layoff of nearly a month on Saturday when the Tigers host rival Ole Miss.
"I expect Leonard to be back this week ... I expect him to practice today, and practice all week, and we'll see how it goes throughout the week," LSU coach Ed Orgeron said during a news conference Monday.
Fournette hasn't played since Sept. 24 against Auburn, when he rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries. Since then, he's missed games against Missouri and Southern Miss with an ankle injury. He also would have missed a game against Florida scheduled for Oct. 8 had it not been postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. That game has since been rescheduled for Nov. 19. He also missed a Week 2 game against Jacksonville State with the ankle injury.
"You can feel the fire in him. The injury took a toll on him mentally and physically," Orgeron said. "He felt like he couldn't help his team. He wanted to help his team. He wanted to be part of the new things going on. He did help me at halftime, he was helping on the sideline, and I know he's going to help us with that ball in his hand."
In August, Fournette was voted the No. 1 player in college football by a panel of NFL.com analysts. As a junior, he could be eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft if he applies for and is granted early eligibility after the season.
He was plenty durable last year, playing in every Tigers game in rushing for 1,953 yards on 300 carries. This season, in three games, he's run for 386 yards on 67 carries.
Here's a look at Monday injury updates for a few other top players:
» Oklahoma RB Samaje Perine will miss two to three weeks, OU coach Bob Stoops said. Perine pulled a muscle in a win over Kansas State.
» Clemson RB Wayne Gallmanwill miss practice this week due to a concussion he suffered Saturday against North Carolina State. Clemson is idle this Saturday.
» North Carolina WR Mack Hollins, an experienced deep threat for the Tar Heels, will miss the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone. Hollins, a senior, was averaging nearly 20 yards per catch this year.
» UCLA coach Jim Mora is hopeful that QB Josh Rosen will be ready to play against Utah this week. Rosen sat out the Bruins' loss to Washington State Saturday due to leg and shoulder injuries. It was the first missed start of the true sophomore's career.
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