LSU RB Leonard Fournette, a Legend in the Making

Legends aren't born, they're made.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette made himself into an SEC legend Saturday afternoon in Death Valley.

Fournette's LSU Tigers demolished Auburn 45-21 in Baton Rouge, improving their record to 2-0 overall and in the SEC and announcing themselves as a true contender for the College Football Playoff.

In the process, Fournette launched himself into SEC lore.

The 6'1", 230-pound sophomore running back from New Orleans rushed 19 times for 228 yards and three touchdowns, and he cemented his spot at or near the top of every Heisman top-five poll this week.

"Leonard Fournette...all of the accolades and descriptions that you can make of the guy...he's very, very special," head coach Les Miles said on the CBS broadcast.

It wasn't just the numbers that stood out. Fournette dominated the game from the opening play from scrimmage, when he went 71 yards, to his final play, when he elevated across the goal line for his third touchdown. At that point, Miles wisely benched him for the remainder of the game with a slight thigh bruise.

In between, he had the required Heisman moments needed to properly achieve legend status.

He's the kind of running back who thrives on attention.

Fournette is the focal point of the LSU offense, but the extra attention from defenses won't stop him from dominating. LSU's quarterback play under sophomore Brandon Harris is still a work in progress, to the point that all he's being asked to do is take care of the football.

It doesn't matter, because Fournette takes care of the rest.

It's a cliche, but in Fournette's case—as proved by his 387 yards and six touchdowns in two games—it's true. He can put the team on his back and carry it to victory. Or, maybe in Auburn safety Tray Matthews' case, flip opposing players over his back and carry his team to victory.

As Tony Barnhart of the SEC Network pointed out on Twitter, Fournette is a virtual clone of another legendary SEC running back: 

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Auburn knew what was coming, but stopping an offense that's one-dimensional by choice rather than necessity is a bit easier said than done.

Prior to the game, defensive back Johnathan "Rudy" Ford famously downplayed how difficult it is to stop Fournette.

That got portrayed as a slight, because it was to an extent. But it was also an indication that Ford knew what was coming and that typically stopping teams that are one-dimensional isn't challenging.

LSU is no ordinary team, and Fournette is no ordinary running back.

He is a freight train with the speed of a gazelle and lightning-quick moves. He's a transcendent running back who feeds off pressure, thrives off attention and runs with as sharp of an edge as anybody in the country.

Walker, Bo Jackson and the rest of the SEC's best at the position should make some room. Fournette is crashing their party, and he made his case as not only the best football player in the country, but also as one of the best running backs in SEC history.

Once he's done this season, he has at least one more year to terrorize opposing defenses after he's finished with them in 2015.

If that doesn't keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night, nothing will.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Statistics are courtesy of CFBStats.com.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.