Can LSU’s Fournette make run at Heisman?
Even after missing four games with injuries, Leonard Fournette is poised to make some noise in the Heisman Trophy race.
The LSU running back is coming off one of the most impressive individual performances of the season, running for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries in a rout of Mississippi. The No. 19 Tigers are off this week and preparing for No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 5.
When Fournette plays, he is as good as advertised. The junior has reached 100 yards in each of the four games he has been able to get on the field, averaging 8.1 per carry and scoring five touchdowns.
Fournette was one of the headliners in a star-studded Heisman field entering the season. They have all been overtaken by Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is still drawing considerable Heisman attention, but other big names have fallen off.
Last season’s Heisman runner-up, Christian McCaffrey of Stanford, has missed games with injuries and been unable to cut loose in the Cardinal’s struggling offense. Houston quarterback Greg Ward has slipped out of the race with the Cougars losing two of three.
Florida State’s Dalvin Cook is in position to make a late push. Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett can likely do the same.
How about Fournette? With high-profile games left against Alabama, No. 14 Florida and No. 9 Texas A&M and the possibility of leading his team to the SEC championship game, don’t rule out Fournette receiving an invitation to New York City for the Heisman presentation on Dec. 10.
Here’s how AP college football writers rank the Heisman contenders going into Week 9: 1. Lamar Jackson, QB,
Louisville (21 points)
Last week: Jackson went off on North Carolina State for 431 yards, with three TD passes and a touchdown run.
This week: at Virginia. The Cavaliers are third from the bottom in the ACC in defense (6.17 yards per play allowed). Expect another big game for Jackson. 2 (tie). Jake Browning,
QB, Washington (10 points)
Last week: The sophomore threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score in a rout of Oregon State. He only completed 50 percent of his throws, which dropped his passer rating to second in the country (199.62), but still on pace to set a single-season record.
This week: at No. 17 Utah. The Utes are in the middle of the Pac-12 pack defensively in yards per play (5.76, seventh in the conference), but they lead the league with 14 interceptions and are fourth in sacks with 22. 2 (tie). Deshaun Watson,
QB, Clemson (10 points) Last week: Off. This week: at No. 12 Florida State. The Seminoles defense has struggled mightily when facing big-time offenses, including Louisville and Jackson. This is a chance for Watson to make up some ground on Jackson, but the Cardinals’ quarterback already has set a high bar against Florida State.
4. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State (1 point)
Last week: The senior had a pedestrian, for him, 135 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a victory against San Jose State, but is still leading the country in rushing by 34 yards per game.
This week: at Utah State. The Aggies are 3-4 but have one of the better defenses in the Mountain West. They rank third against the run (3.61 yards per carry) and overall (4.97 per play).
Four more to watch (other than Fournette): › Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State. › Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma. › Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech. › Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama.