Leonard Fournette Sets SEC Record with 3 Straight 200-Yard Games

The Heisman Trophy front-runner is at it again.

LSU Tigers star Leonard Fournette became the first tailback in SEC history to rush for 200 yards in three straight games, per Matt Barbato of SEC Country, doing so Saturday against the Eastern Michigan Eagles. The standout sophomore was just 17 yards shy of the LSU single-game record of 250 yards.

Fournette is on a tear, having amassed 864 yards and 11 touchdowns on 99 carries (8.7 yards per attempt). He’s drawing acclaim as the most NFL-ready player in college football, and some have even speculated that he may sit out his junior year in 2016 to avoid injury—though Fournette refuted that notion earlier this week.

Herschel Walker, the 1982 Heisman winner and arguably college football’s greatest running back of all time, chimed in on Fournette’s strong start, per TMZ Sports: “He’s better than I was. ... It's a bad idea to talk about leaving early, just wait and your time will come."

Mario Suriani/Associated Press

Fournette is undoubtedly in the driver’s seat for the Heisman. But unforeseen circumstances—injury, losses, etc.—are constantly lurking in the college football landscape. At this time last year, Georgia's Todd Gurley held the pole position before weathering a suspension and a season-ending knee injury upon his return.

But for now, keep an eye on No. 7. He’s something special.