Leonard Fournette vs. Auburn: Stats, Highlights and Reaction

LSU running back Leonard Fournette ensured Auburn was not going to be let off the hook like it was against FCS Jacksonville State last week. In LSU's 45-21 victory over Auburn on Saturday, Fournette rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. 

B/R Insights put the performance into perspective:

"

#LSU RB Leonard Fournette vs. #Auburn: 228 rush yds. Most rush yds by @LSUfball RB since Alley Broussard had 250 yds. vs. Ole Miss in 2004.

— B/R Insights (@BR_Insights) September 19, 2015"

It was obvious early on that he was going to have a monster game. On his first carry, which happened to be the first play of the game, Fournette racked 71 yards on a run that brought LSU down to the Auburn 4-yard line, setting up its first touchdown of the day. 

While LSU kept cruising in the first half, Fournette kept eating up yards and scored the team's third touchdown of the game, helping put the team up 24-0. His first touchdown of the day was a 40-yard rumble, ripping through the Auburn defense.

ESPN took a look at his stats after the first half, as the running back already had a fantastic day with 30 more minutes of football to play:

He was at it again in LSU's first drive of the third quarter, shedding tacklers on his way to a 29-yard score. 

With the game safely in hand, Fournette saw his carries dwindle in the second half, but he managed to punch in a third touchdown from a yard out after a fumble put LSU on the 5-yard line. 

His performance floored his head coach, according to Saturday Down South:

A big performance like his this early in the season should certainly help put Fournette at least in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy. In his first two games now, the sophomore has run for 387 yards on just 47 carries. 

In fact, ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg sees Fournette as a favorite:

There's still a lot of football left to be played, but after two games, Fournette is making a very strong claim as to why he is the most elite running back in the nation.

The fact that he is helping LSU easily handle ranked opponents also won't hurt his case, as the Tigers look to climb the polls toward the College Football Playoff.

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com