Leonard Fournette Choosing LSU Will Be Key to Tigers' Rise in SEC

Regardless of whether he's No. 1 overall or just the No. 1 running back, Leonard Fournette is at the top of every prospect list in the country. When a player draws comparisons to Adrian Peterson, like he did from Albert Breer of NFL.com, it means they're pretty good:

Jeff Duncan, a columnist for NOLA.com, made it simple when talking about how significant the commitment is for LSU:

What Fournette does well is, well, just about everything. But his skills that will translate well to the SEC are his physicality and the fact that he's much more a downhill runner than even the likes of Jeremy Hill from this season. Fournette appears to be a guy who enjoys contact, but he has the elusiveness and the speed to get away from would-be tacklers in open space.

One intangible similar to Peterson that he also possesses is his nose for the end zone. The senior from St. Augustine High School finished his career with 88 touchdowns, and as ESPN Stats & Info reported, he put together a ridiculous all-purpose year in his final season:

As for comparisons to former SEC running backs that carried their teams, Eddie Lacy might be the most similar recent back. Though Fournette actually has an extra two inches in height to Lacy coming in as a freshman, he is only six pounds heavier than Lacy was during his junior campaign.

Aside from his physical talents on the field, St. Augustine head coach Cyril Crutchfield believes the reason Fournette has risen to the No. 1 ranking is because of his time he spends working off the field. 

"No doubt Leonard took his game to a new level," Crutchfield told Mike Strom of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. "You look at his work ethic away from the game. He already was a hard worker, but his elevation of his work ethic elevated the team's work ethic."

The man that does just about everything well has pretty lofty expectations for himself. When he spoke to reporters at the Under Armour All-American Game, Fournette spoke about wanting not only individual success but also team success with the Tigers.

"I plan on winning a Heisman and a national championship with my fellow teammates," Fournette said, according to Jeremy Crabtree of ESPN. "I can handle the pressure. I can handle it."

Since 2004, eight of the 10 Heisman Trophy winners just so happened to go on to play in the BCS National Championship Game, including Jameis Winston this season.

If Fournette plans on winning the Heisman, his team will likely need to be contending for a spot in the four-team playoff during his tenure with the Tigers. That's what LSU fans want to hear with the best running back prospect since Peterson entering their backfield.

Whether it's his ability to carry a team with over 3,500 all-purpose yards in a season or 88 rushing touchdowns over four of them, shed tacklers or elude them, or meticulously work on the field or off it, Fournette is a special player that will dominate the SEC.