LSU Football: Tigers' 2015 Backfield Might Not Be Just the Fournette Show

LSU running back Leonard Fournette will have help in 2015. 

Fournette was special in his true freshman season. Sure, he did not perform all the miracles expected of him, nor did he win the Heisman or lead LSU to the SEC Championship Game. 

But Fournette did set the LSU freshman rushing record with 1,034 yards on the ground. He also had arguably his two best games in the last two games of the season against Texas A&M and Notre Dame. "Buga" combined for 289 yards and three rushing touchdowns and also returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score. 

Fournette did all of this damage in style. His pummeling of Texas A&M hard-hitting safety Howard Matthews will never be forgotten: 

Fournette was barely even touched on any of his three touchdowns against Notre Dame. He outran the entire Notre Dame defense on this 89-yard scamper:

Unfortunately for Fournette, these unbelievable runs will generate more preseason Heisman hype. They will be played on repeat throughout the offseason as college football fans eagerly await September.

And it will, once again, give Fournette lofty expectations that will be nearly impossible to reach.  

LSU head coach Les Miles will not let it just be all about Fournette next season. Miles traditionally spreads the wealth in the backfield. That applies even to players the caliber of Fournette.

Darrel Williams provided some relief to LSU's backfield as a true freshman in 2014. Williams ran with great power between the tackles and also played some fullback.

	Att.	Yards	Avg.	TDs
Leonard Fournette	187	1034	5.5	10
Darrel Williams	64	302	4.7	3

Williams will certainly be in the plans, but two fresh faces could make a splash in 2015 as true freshmen, much like he and Fournette did.   

The Future

LSU's 2015 class features two running back commitments both from Baton Rouge. Derrius Guice of Catholic High School and Nick Brossette of University Laboratory School are 4-star playmakers who have made headlines on the recruiting trail.

Guice was named the Most Valuable Player of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl last week after catching two passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He volunteered himself to play slot receiver due to his team's depth at running back, per Raul Dominguez of The Advocate. 

Guice has no shortage of confidence either. Here is what he told Matt Moscona of ESPN 104.5/104.9 Baton Rouge, per producer James Haralson:

Guice's ability is sublime. His use of acceleration to blow by tacklers is amazing. He also proved to be a capable receiver and a possible candidate to return kicks on special teams if need be. 

Brossette is no slouch either. He competed in the Under Armour All-America Game last week and Nike's The Opening before the season. Though his five yards on three carries were not ideal, he still impressed at both high-profile events. 

Elite running backs make tacklers miss. Brossette glides off tacklers, yet he is also not afraid to run through them. The 6'0", 207-pound monster is versatile like Guice, as they both have soft hands catching the ball out of the backfield. 

Brossette's resolve is well noted on and off the field. After losing in the state finals in 2013, he led University Laboratory back to the championship this past December. The game started roughly, as his two first-half fumbles helped contribute to an early 14-0 deficit. 

Brossette would rebound by finishing the game with 37 carries for 272 yards and three touchdowns in a resounding 46-32 comeback win. The carries and yards were both Prep Classic records, according to Hunter Paniagua of Tiger Sports Digest.  

Brossette's journey off the field has been anything but easy. WAFB's Jacques Doucet and ESPN's Jeremy Crabtree have both chronicled his mother's struggles of raising him while also battling cancer.  

Will Both Stay Committed to LSU?

Unfortunately for LSU, nothing is official until Guice and Brossette sign the dotted line. Their final decision will not come until national signing day on February 4. 

Guice seems to be the stronger of the two commitments. He has even done some in-state recruiting for the Tigers, per Haralson:

Brossette's commitment is more uncertain. Texas has made a push for his services, which has made a strong impression on him. He will make an official visit to Austin on January 16 and then to Baton Rouge the following week, per Shea Dixon of Geaux247. 

Brossette joined ESPN 104.5/104.9 Baton Rouge's The Morning Drive last week to chat about his future, per Dixon: “I don’t talk about my commitment, I keep it between my family and I. LSU is still home, but I’m seeing what else is out there and just making some visits. It’s just LSU and Texas right now. That’s really about it.”

It would not shock anyone if Guice or Brossette chose to go elsewhere. The Tigers have a loaded backfield returning with Fournette and Williams, which means carries could be limited. Either could be 15-20 carry backs at most schools as true freshmen. 

With that said, young prospects have become more educated about the life span of running backs in the NFL. Body preservation is key. With LSU's depth in the backfield, it does not force players to carry the ball 30-40 times.  

Wait, There Is More?

It seems as if LSU can never run out of backfield hosses. 

On top of Guice and Brossette, LSU also has a commitment from the No. 1 fullback prospect in the country, David Ducre. Ducre's massive 238-pound frame will immediately help make the loss of senior fullback Connor Neighbors easier on the Tigers. 

Ducre is a no-nonsense, north-and-south runner when he gets the ball. He will bring that same mentality as a lead blocker once he steps on campus. 

Ducre will also have a head start on Guice and Brossette as one of six early enrollees in the 2015 class, per Dixon. He could get some extended reps carrying the ball in spring practice, as Miles could give Fournette and Williams some extra rest.  

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press/Associated Press

Conclusion

There are few things as unpredictable in football as the running back position. 

LSU began 2012 with what looked to be four bona fide studs in the backfield. Alfred Blue, Kenny Hilliard, Michael Ford and Spencer Ware began the season as an unstoppable quadrant of ball-carriers. 

Yet a few injuries and average play led to freshman Jeremy Hill getting his opportunity to shine in a victory over South Carolina. Hill remained the No. 1 back for the rest of the season and eventually became an All-SEC performer in 2013. 

The same can be said for Georgia's loaded backfield this season of Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall and Sony Michel. Gurley was suspended early, and Marshall and Michel suffered injuries, which opened the door for freshman Nick Chubb against Missouri in the sixth game of the season. Chubb transformed into an All-SEC performer, becoming only the fifth back in the conference since 2008 to eclipse 1,500 yards rushing. 

Fournette's freshman record was impressive, but it is not as if he did not have holes in his game. He was a non-factor in numerous high-profile contests and struggled at times to make defenders miss in the open field.

Guice and Brossette could both be the next Chubb or Hill. Williams will also be a productive player, and Ducre has the potential to be a force between the tackles. 

Fournette will be LSU's No. 1 back heading into 2015 and has the potential to make a run at the Heisman. But with Miles' philosophy of spreading the wealth, surpassing his freshman total will be a difficult task itself. Miles has never had a running back at LSU rush for over 1,000 yards in a season twice under his leadership.

Fournette is talented enough to put the team on his back and win games next season. But even Buga himself would admit that having a star-studded cast of characters help him carry the load is better suited for the team.  

Luckily enough, Fournette will have that help on the ground. Through the air, though, is a different question. 

Stats, rankings and additional information provided by cfbstats.com, ESPN.com and LSU Sports Information. Recruiting information provided by 247Sports.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow me on Twitter @CarterthePower.