.jpg) Fournette with theTampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Running back | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1995-01-18)January 18, 1995 (age 30) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 228 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | St. Augustine(New Orleans) | ||||||||||||||
| College | LSU (2014–2016) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2017: 1st round, 4th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||||||
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Leonard Joseph Fournette III (born January 18, 1995) is an American professionalfootballrunning back. He playedcollege football for theLSU Tigers, and was selected by theJacksonville Jaguars with the fourth overall pick in the2017 NFL draft.
Fournette had near-unprecedented hype headed into college in 2014 after an outstanding career atSt. Augustine High School inNew Orleans. He won the2013USA Today High School Football Offensive Player of the Year and was named the top-ranked recruit in 2014 senior class according toESPN,247Sports.com, andCBS Sports.[1] At LSU, Fournette was a consensusAll-America selection following his sophomore season in 2015, after setting school single-season records with 1,953 rushing yards and 22 rushingtouchdowns, and leading the country with 162.8 rushing yards per game. Various experts regarded Fournette as the best player in college football.[2][3] He missed much of his junior season due to recurring ankle injuries.
Upon being drafted by the Jaguars, Fournette had immediate success, including rushing for over 1,000 yards as a rookie. However, he struggled with several injuries and suspensions and his relationship with the franchise soured as a result, eventually leading to his release after just three seasons with the team. Fournette then signed with the Buccaneers, with whom he played a large part in winningSuper Bowl LV over theKansas City Chiefs. Fournette remained the team's primary starter for most of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. After being released by the Buccaneers, he played in two games for theBuffalo Bills in 2023.
Raised in the7th Ward of New Orleans by his parents, Leonard Jr. and Lory, Fournette grew up in a troubled area that was often affected by violence and gang activity, especially afterHurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Fournette credited Katrina as kick-starting his football career after moving to Houston and back within a year because of the hurricane evacuation. Fournette also credits his mother'sCatholic faith with getting the family through the recovery process.[4]
After returning to New Orleans, Fournette playedfootball atSt. Augustine High School, and competed intrack and field.[5] His200 metres regional mark of 21.57 seconds is fastest in 4A, and his 10.68 in the100 metres is only .02 off the best time. Fournette also competed in the4 × 100 metres relay and4 × 200 metres relay.
On thevarsity football team, Fournette was a starter since his freshman year and compiled 7,619 rushing yards and 88 rushingtouchdowns for his career.[6] As a freshman, Fournette rushed for more than 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns and became the first-ever freshman to earn a scholarship offer fromLouisiana State.[7] His sophomore year ended with 1,900 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns. As a junior, Fournette registered 2,135 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns and was an LFCA Class 4A First-team All-State honoree. In his senior year, Fournette ran for 1,792 yards and 16 touchdowns and added 45receptions for 745 yards and six scores. Early in the season, he had a heralded performance with two touchdowns and 262 yards rushing againstMalachi Dupre'sJohn Curtis Christian, which was nationally televised byESPN2.[8] St. Augustine ended the season with a 9–2 record and an appearance in theLHSAA Division I semifinal game, where they were upset 31–28 byArchbishop Rummel High School.[9] Fournette was namedLouisiana's 2013 Mr. Football by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, and also was selected as an All-American byParade andUSA Today, as well asUSA Today Offensive Player of the Year, the first from Louisiana sinceRyan Perrilloux in 2004. After the season, Fournette participated in theUnder Armour All-America Game where he caught a 36-yard touchdown pass and rushed for 43 yards on ninecarries.
Unanimously regarded as the bestrunning back prospect of his class, Fournette was one of the most highly recruited players ever to come out of Louisiana.ESPN ranked him as the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2014,[10] as didScout.com.[11] At the 2014Under Armour All-America Game, Fournette announced his decision to attendLouisiana State University (LSU).[12]
Fournette attended and played college football for LSU from 2014 to 2016 under head coachesLes Miles andEd Orgeron.[13][14]
Fournette's college career was preceded by very high expectations and hype, and he was often called "the nextAdrian Peterson".[15][16] In his collegiate debut against theWisconsin Badgers on August 30, 2014, Fournette ran for 18 yards on eight carries.[16] After the game,Tigers head coach Les Miles downplayed the Fournette hype. "First games are not to be comparable to his 30th game," said Miles. "Expectations are unrealistic."[15]In his second game, against theSam Houston State Bearkats, Fournette rushed for 92 yards on 13 attempts and scored his first collegiate rushing touchdown.[17] In the fifth week of the season, theNew Mexico State Aggies traveled toDeath Valley to face the #17 LSU Tigers, and Fournette ran for 122 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns.[18] This effort put Fournette at the top of the Tigers' rushing list for the season.[19] On October 11 against SECrivalFlorida, Fournette rushed the ball 27 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns to help LSU secure a 30–27 last-second win inThe Swamp.[20] Against undefeated and #3Ole Miss, who led the nation in stopping the run, Fournette shook off an early goal line fumble and rushed 23 times for 113 yards to go along with two receptions for 41 yards.[21] LSU ran the ball 12 times for 92 yards on a 13-play, 95-yard touchdown drive to upset the Rebels by a score of 10–7 in Death Valley.[22] Fournette finished the season againstNotre Dame in the2014 Music City Bowl with 11 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the loss to the Fighting Irish.[23][24]
Fournette started his sophomore season with a strong performance of 159 rushing yards and three touchdowns againstMississippi State.[25] In the next game, a victory overAuburn, Fournette finished with 228 rushing yards and three touchdowns.[26] He rushed for a career-high 244 yards and two touchdowns againstSyracuse in theCarrier Dome, six yards shy of tyingAlley Broussard's school record of 250 yards againstOle Miss in 2004.[27] Fournette had an 87-yard touchdown run nullified by anillegal formation call late in the game.[28] The following week againstEastern Michigan, he rushed for 233 yards, becoming the first player inSoutheastern Conference (SEC) history to rush for 200 or more yards in three straight games.[29] AgainstWestern Kentucky, Fournette ran for 150 yards, his ninth consecutive 100+ yards rushing game, a streak that dated back to theTexas A&M game in late November 2014.[30] Fournette tied a school record originally established byCharles Alexander in1978.[31] Fournette's streak ended the next game againstrivalAlabama, the nation's best rushing defense, atBryant–Denny Stadium. He was held to 31 yards on 19 attempts, as the Crimson Tide handed LSU its first loss of the season.[32] In the2015 Texas Bowl, Fournette ran for 212 yards and scored five total touchdowns as the Tigers defeatedTexas Tech, 56–27.[33]
As a sophomore, Fournette set school records with 1,953 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. With an average of 162.8 rushing yards per game, he won the NCAA rushing title, awarded to the player with the highest rushing yards per game average each season.[34] Fournette finished sixth inHeisman Trophy voting, earning 110 points. He earned consensusAll-America honors as he was named to the first-team by three official selectors: theAssociated Press (AP),[35] theWalter Camp Football Foundation,[36] and theFootball Writers Association of America.[37] SEC coaches,[38] theAssociated Press,[39] and ESPN.com[40] each named Fournette to their All-SEC first-team.
Entering his junior season, Fournette was expected to contend for theHeisman Trophy, and was one of the preseason favorites to win the award.[41][42] During a scrimmage game prior to the2016 season, Fournette sustained ahigh ankle sprain,[43][44] but was well enough to return for the season opener againstWisconsin atLambeau Field.[45] Late in the game against Wisconsin, he bruised the same ankle and missed the next week's game againstJacksonville State as a result. Fournette re-injured it against SEC West rivalAuburn on September 24 in a 101-yard rushing effort, causing him to miss the next two games.[46] On October 22, his first game back, Fournette rushed for 284 yards and three touchdowns againstOle Miss to set a new single-game school record for rushing yards.[47] His school record was surpassed later in the season byDerrius Guice by one yard. With his ankle still not fully healed, Fournette was not expected to play againstFlorida on November 19, and did not suit up for pregame warm-ups. However, after a pregame scuffle between the teams in which Fournette shoved a Florida assistant coach,[48] LSU head coachEd Orgeron granted Fournette permission to play. Still visibly bothered by the injury, he managed only 40 yards on 12 carries and did not play in the fourth quarter.[49] Due to the injury, Fournette did not travel with the team toCollege Station to faceTexas A&M in the final game of the regular season.[50] He finished his junior season having carried 129 times for 843 yards and eight touchdowns in seven games.[51]
On December 5, 2016, Fournette announced his intention to enter the2017 NFL draft.[52] To avoid injury, his coach told Fournette to skip the2016 Citrus Bowl, which LSU won overLouisville.[53] Fournette finished his college career having rushed for 3,830 yards, the fourth-most by a player in LSU history behindCharles Alexander,Dalton Hilliard, andKevin Faulk. His 40 rushing touchdowns are tied for third most in school history with Alexander and behind Hilliard and Faulk.[54]
| Season | Team | GP | GS | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | ||||
| 2014 | LSU | 13 | 6 | 187 | 1,034 | 5.5 | 89 | 10 | 7 | 127 | 0 |
| 2015 | LSU | 11 | 11 | 271 | 1,953 | 6.4 | 87 | 22 | 18 | 209 | 1 |
| 2016 | LSU | 7 | 7 | 129 | 843 | 6.5 | 78 | 8 | 15 | 146 | 0 |
| Total | 31 | 24 | 616 | 3,830 | 6.2 | 89 | 40 | 40 | 482 | 1 | |
Coming out of college, Fournette was highly touted as a top ten pick in the upcoming draft and was ranked as the third best prospect going into theNFL Combine. He arrived at the NFL combine weighing in five pounds heavier than his playing weight in college and opted to only participate in thevertical jump and40-yard dash. At LSU'sPro Day, Fournette opted to only partake in positional drills. He was ranked the top overall running back prospect by NFLDraftScout.com, and second behindFlorida State'sDalvin Cook byPro Football Focus andSports Illustrated.[55][56][57]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Fournette's NFL Combine workout | |
| Leonard Fournette's 40-yard dash | |
| Fournette's Pro Day highlights |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Wonderlic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft0+1⁄2 in (1.84 m) | 240 lb (109 kg) | 31+5⁄8 in (0.80 m) | 9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | 4.51 s | 1.59 s | 2.65 s | 28.5 in (0.72 m) | 11 | ||||
| All values fromNFL Combine[58][59][60] | ||||||||||||
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| Jaguars select Fournette fourth overall | |
| Fournette arrives at 2017 NFL Draft |
TheJacksonville Jaguars selected Fournette fourth overall in the2017 NFL draft.[61] He was the first running back taken in that year's draft.[62] On May 17, 2017, the Jaguars signed Fournette to a four-year, $27 million contract with an $18 million signing bonus.[63]
Fournette made his regular season debut on September 10, 2017, against theHouston Texans atNRG Stadium. He rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries as the Jaguars won 29–7.[64][65] Three weeks later against theNew York Jets, Fournette recorded a 10-yard reception in the first quarter for his first career receiving touchdown in the 23–20 overtime loss.[66] In the next game against thePittsburgh Steelers, Fournette posted an impressive performance with 181 rushing yards, including a Jaguars franchise-record 90-yard run in the fourth quarter, and two touchdowns during the 30–9 road victory.[67] The following week against theLos Angeles Rams, Fournette had 21 carries for 130 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run on the Jaguars' first play from scrimmage. He left the eventual 27–17 loss during the fourth quarter with a minor ankle injury.[68] Because of the ankle injury, he was ruled out for Week 7. Following a bye week, more trouble arose as Fournette was declared inactive for Week 9 against theCincinnati Bengals as he violated team rules.[69]
Fournette finished his rookie year with 268 carries for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 36 receptions for 302 yards and a touchdown.[70] He was ranked 58th by his peers on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2018.[71]
The Jaguars finished the 2017 season atop theAFC South with a 10–6 record.[72] In theWild Card Round against theBuffalo Bills, Fournette struggled, rushing for 57 yards on 21 carries as the Jaguars won 10–3.[73] In theDivisional Round against the Steelers, he briefly left the game with an ankle injury, but returned and finished with 109 yards and three touchdowns as the Jaguars won 45–42.[74] During theAFC Championship Game against theNew England Patriots, Fournette ran for 76 yards and a touchdown in the 24–20 road loss.[75]
Fournette injured his hamstring during the season-opening 20–15 victory over theNew York Giants.[76] He missed the next two games before returning against the Jets, where he aggravated the injury and was ruled out indefinitely.[77] After missing four more games, Fournette returned against the division rivalIndianapolis Colts, rushing for 53 yards and a touchdown with 56 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown as the Jaguars lost 29–26.[78] Against the Bills, Fournette had his best game of the season, rushing for 95 yards and two touchdowns. However, after aDonte Moncrief reception that was initially ruled a touchdown in the third quarter, Fournette got into a fistfight with Bills defenderShaq Lawson as part of a brawl that broke out between the Jaguars and Bills, and the two were subsequently ejected from the game. Without Fournette, the Jaguars lost 24–21.[79] He was suspended one game the following day for the fight.[80]
Fournette finished the 2018 season with 133 carries for 439 yards and five touchdowns to go along with 22 receptions for 185 yards and a touchdown in eight games and starts.[81]
During a narrow Week 4 26–24 road victory against theDenver Broncos, Fournette rushed for 225 yards, including an 81-yard rush, marking the first time in a single NFL game where he had over 200 rushing yards.[82] In the next game against theCarolina Panthers, he rushed 23 times for 108 yards and his first rushing touchdown of the season in the 34–27 road loss.[83] During Week 7 against the Bengals, Fournette finished with 131 rushing yards as the Jaguars won 27–17.[84] During Week 12 against theTennessee Titans, he rushed 24 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns and caught nine passes for 62 yards in the 42–20 road loss.[85] Overall, in the 2019 season, Fournette had 1,152 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 76 receptions for 522 receiving yards.[86]
On May 1, 2020, the Jaguars declined the fifth-year option on Fournette's contract, which would have made him a free agent in 2021. On August 31, the Jaguars waived Fournette after being unable to trade him.[87]
On September 6, 2020, Fournette signed a one-year contract with theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[88]
During Week 2 against the Panthers, Fournette finished with 12 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns, including a 46-yard rushing touchdown with 1:56 remaining to seal the game for the Buccaneers 31–17.[89] Overall, in a backfield whereRonald Jones II got a majority of the carries, Fournette recorded 97 carries for 367 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 36 receptions for 233 yards in the 2020 season.[90][91]
During theWild Card Round against theWashington Football Team, Fournette rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 39 yards in the 31–23 road victory.[92]In theDivisional Round of the playoffs against theNew Orleans Saints, he rushed for 63 yards and recorded five receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown during the 30–20 road victory.[93]During theNFC Championship Game against theGreen Bay Packers, Fournette rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown in the 31–26 road victory.[94] InSuper Bowl LV against theKansas City Chiefs, Fournette rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown and recorded four catches for 46 yards during the 31–9 victory.[95][96] Fournette's impressive playoff performance earned him the nickname "Playoff Lenny", which later evolved to "Lombardi Lenny" after scoring a touchdown in the Super Bowl victory over the Chiefs.[97] He became the third player in NFL history to score touchdowns in four games in a single postseason.[98]
On March 31, 2021, Fournette re-signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year deal worth $3.25 million.[99][100]
Fournette was one of the first players to change his jersey number after theNational Football League uniform numbers rule had changed in April 2021. Fournette decided to wear number 7, which he previously wore atLSU during his college career.[101]
In Week 6, against thePhiladelphia Eagles, Fournette had 127 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns.[102] Against the Colts in Week 12, Fournette rushed for 100 yards, had 31 receiving yards, and had four total touchdowns in the 38–31 win, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week.[103] He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 15 and was placed oninjured reserve on December 23, 2021.[104] Fournette finished the 2021 season with 180 carries for 812 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with 69 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns.[105]
Fournette was activated on January 22, 2022.[106] During theDivisional Round against the Rams, he had 107 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 30–27 loss.[107]
On March 23, 2022, Fournette re-signed with the Buccaneers on a three-year, $21 million contract.[108][109] In Week 1, Fournette rushed for 127 yards on 21 carries in a 19–3 victory over theDallas Cowboys.[110] In Week 5, against theAtlanta Falcons, he had 139 scrimmage yards, one rushing touchdown, and one receiving touchdown in the 21–15 victory.[111] In Week 16, against theArizona Cardinals, he had 162 scrimmage yards in the 19–16 victory.[112] In the 2022 season, Fournette had 189 carries for 668 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 73 receptions for 523 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.[113]
On March 17, 2023, Fournette was released by the Buccaneers.[114]
On October 31, 2023, Fournette signed with the Billspractice squad.[115] On December 23, Fournette was elevated from the practice squad due toTy Johnson being inactive because of a shoulder injury. Fournette made his 2023 debut that night during the Bills' Week 16 matchup against theLos Angeles Chargers.[116] He was released on January 16, 2024.[117]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2017 | JAX | 13 | 13 | 268 | 1,040 | 3.9 | 90T | 9 | 36 | 302 | 8.4 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | JAX | 8 | 8 | 133 | 439 | 3.3 | 25 | 5 | 22 | 185 | 8.4 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | JAX | 15 | 15 | 265 | 1,152 | 4.5 | 81 | 3 | 76 | 522 | 6.9 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | TB | 13 | 3 | 97 | 367 | 3.8 | 46T | 6 | 36 | 233 | 6.5 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | TB | 14 | 13 | 180 | 812 | 4.5 | 47 | 8 | 69 | 454 | 6.6 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | TB | 16 | 9 | 189 | 668 | 3.5 | 23 | 3 | 73 | 523 | 7.2 | 44 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | BUF | 2 | 0 | 12 | 40 | 3.3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 80 | 61 | 1,137 | 4,498 | 4.0 | 90T | 34 | 312 | 2,219 | 7.3 | 44 | 7 | 4 | 1 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2017 | JAX | 3 | 3 | 70 | 242 | 3.5 | 18 | 4 | 7 | 44 | 6.3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | TB | 4 | 4 | 64 | 300 | 4.7 | 27T | 3 | 18 | 148 | 8.2 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | TB | 1 | 1 | 13 | 51 | 3.9 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 56 | 6.2 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | TB | 1 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 2.2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | BUF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 10 | 8 | 159 | 624 | 3.9 | 27T | 9 | 35 | 254 | 7.3 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
In 2021, Fournette signed withComplexity Gaming.[122]
Fournette's younger brother, Lanard, also played atLSU.[123][124]
On June 8, 2020, Fournette led a peaceful march of about 700 people, including police officers, in downtown Jacksonville to protest themurder of George Floyd.[125]
On June 27, 2023, Fournette's car caught fire while he was driving onInterstate 275 near Tampa, Florida. Fournette escaped unharmed, but his vehicle was a total loss.[126]
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