Fournette, Henry are two of a kind
BATON ROUGE — If it takes one to know one, then LSU’s Leonard Fournette should have plenty of credibility when he describes Alabama’s Derrick Henry as a supremely punishing power runner.
“I wouldn’t want to tackle him,” said Fournette, a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
Henry feels the same way about Fournette heading into fourth- ranked Alabama’s Saturday night game against the No. 2 Tigers at Bryant- Denny Stadium in a matchup that will showcase two of the biggest, strongest and most productive running backs in college football.
Fournette, 6- 1, 230 pounds, has been the driving force of LSU’s offense. His rushing average of 193.1 yards per game leads the nation and he has scored 15 touchdowns.
Only Fournette has been more productive in the SEC than the 6- 3, 242- pound Henry, who averages 130.5 yards per game and has scored 14 touchdowns.
“Whew, that’s a big boy to bring down,” Henry said of Fournette. “He runs the ball the right way. Every week, he brings it.”
Some comparisons are natural because both players are big, routinely run over would- be tacklers, gain a lot of yards and score often. But Alabama Coach Nick Saban said direct comparisons may be unfair because their bodies are different, as are their running styles.
Saban said Fournette is as dominant as any player in the country.
“We thought he was a fabulous player in high school, the No. 1 running back in the country,” said Saban, who recruited Fournette. “It’s no surprise to me that the guy has developed into one of the premier players in the country and arguably the best running back.”
Fournette said the choice between Alabama and LSU was one of the hardest decisions he’s made. Henry was a freshman with the Crimson Tide when Fournette chose LSU. Fournette has said his main reasons for staying in Louisiana had to do with family, personal relationships and the desire to be different than players flocking to Tuscaloosa because of the Tide’s recent collection of national titles and SEC dominance.
If Alabama emerges again as the SEC’s best, Henry will be a big reason why.
“I don’t think you can say enough about the way he’s played and how he’s shown great competitive character and been very productive, not only in the way he’s carried the ball but in pass protection, the things he’s done without the ball,” Saban said.
Defensive players on both teams have a good sense of what they’ll be up against this week because of their experience practicing against their own battering backs.
“You’ve got to be ready for that matchup. It’s nothing you shy away from,” LSU linebacker Kendell Beckwith said. “It’s the kind of thing you’ve got to look forward to and be ready to play. You’ve got to go out and show what you can do, be confident in what you can do.”
Fournette has garnered more attention this season, partly because of his handful of touchdown runs longer than 40 yards, including one as long as 87.
A big game against Alabama would stamp Fournette’s position as a Heisman front- runner, while a poor performance could give other candidates an opening. There could be more pressure on Fournette, although he insists he doesn’t see it that way.
“I’m not really worried about the Heisman,” he said. “I’m not focused on me. I understand I’m in a position to win it or whatever, but my whole focus is on a championship right now. Alabama is another team in the way, and not to mention they’re a great team. So, we’re focused on them.”
Alabama quarterback Jake Coker said Henry deserves more credit that he’s getting for the hard yards he’s earned.
“He gets overshadowed for sure. The guy is a beast,” Coker said. “When you see him run on the field, it’s a lot different than seeing him run on TV. Some of those plays, I see him just punish people.
“I just sit back there and I’m just like, ‘ Gah, I feel bad for that guy.’ ”