As far ahead of the Heisman field as Louisville QB Lamar Jackson might be, LSU coach Ed Orgeron isn't counting out Tigers RB Leonard Fournette just yet. And he's also doubled down on just how good the junior really is. Orgeron called Fournette the best player in college football Wednesday on the SEC media teleconference, which of course is the very criteria for the Heisman, and suggested that a late-season surge could give the junior the push he needs for the award.
"For sure," Orgeron said when asked if Fournette still had a chance at the Heisman. "He's the best player in the country. I don't know how that stuff works but I know this: When I was at USC, Carson Palmer had a great last three games, we beat Notre Dame, and he won the Heisman. So I think when you look at the things he did last week, it puts him in consideration. It's not his fault that he's been hurt, obviously. But if there's a better player in the country, I'd like to see him."
While it's not the least bit surprising that a head coach would heap the highest of praise upon one of his own players, that doesn't mean a sound argument can't be made for Orgeron's stance.
Despite missing significant playing time with an ankle injury, Fournette was ranked the No. 7 player in the game a few weeks ago by NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein. And since then, he's been on a quick ascent. Fournette ran for a school-record 284 yards on 16 carries in a win over Ole Miss in Week 8, a spectacular return from the injury that cost him three games. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks wrote that Fournette's performance against the Rebels cemented him as the top rusher in the college game. For the year, Fournette has 670 yards on 83 carries with five touchdowns in four games.
As for his Heisman hopes, a number of factors are working against Fournette. First among them is the distance between he and Jackson, whose Heisman credentials make him a clear front-runner with only a month left in the regular season. Another is Fournette's missed playing time. LSU will play only 11 regular-season games because its game against South Alabama was cancelled to accommodate a rescheduled game against Florida on Nov. 19. As such, factoring his missed time due to injury, Fournette will play no more than eight regular-season games.
If Fournette is to get back in the Heisman hunt, a big game against No. 1-ranked Alabama and its vaunted defense on Saturday will be a requirement. After all, it was Alabama's defense that essentially took Fournette out of the Heisman running a year ago when he gained just 31 yards on 19 carries. A big game against the Crimson Tide, coupled with an LSU upset, won't be enough to catch Jackson.
But it would certainly go a long way toward making up some ground.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
