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Sep 19, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Leonard Fournette 2015 Season Statistics:

Games Played: 12
Carries: 300
Rushing Yards: 1,953
Yards Per Carry: 6.5
Rushing Touchdowns: 22
Rushing Yards Per Game: 162.8
Receptions: 19
Receiving Yards: 253
Yards Per Catch: 13.3
Receiving Touchdowns: 1
Notable: Fournette led the nation in rushing yards per game in 2015.

Despite LSU being forced to cancel its 2015 season opener against McNeese State, running back Leonard Fournette spent most of the year as the nation’s leader in rushing yards. Thanks to at least 150 rushing yards and one touchdown in each of his first seven games, Fournette also spent a large portion of his sophomore campaign as the Heisman Trophy favorite while also helping the Tigers climb to No. 2 in the College Football Playoff Rankings.

Unfortunately, Fournette stumbled in the most important game of the season – the Nov. 7 heavyweight bought with Alabama in which the Crimson Tide won 30-16. After averaging 193.1 rushing yards per game and 7.7 yards per carry to that point, Fournette was held to just 31 rushing yards on 19 attempts. He scored a touchdown, but wasn’t a major factor otherwise. Alabama’s Derrick Henry, on the other hand, emerged not only as the Heisman frontrunner, but went on to win the award.

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Fournette was better in subsequent losses to Arkansas and Ole Miss (91 rushing yards with one TD and 108 rushing yards with 72 receiving yards, respectively), but was far from the explosive playmaker he had been earlier. In fact, Fournette was held to fewer than 5.0 yards per carry in LSU’s three losses – the only three games all season in which he failed to reach that mark.

LSU and Fournette got back on track at the end of the season, and with 212 rushing yards and four touchdowns against Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl, Fournette bumped his season production to 1,953 rushing yards, which was good for a nation-leading 162.8 rushing yards per game, and 22 touchdowns.

Fournette has proven himself to be a remarkably talented playmaker out of the backfield, and he appears primed for another standout performance in what will likely be his final season in Baton Rouge.

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