Leonard Fournette's Family Reportedly May Have Violated NCAA Rules

LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette is the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, and frankly, bigger and better things are on the horizon for the transcendent future NFL prospect. Unfortunately, potential NCAA violations may mar Fournette's tremendous sophomore season.

On Nov. 5, Josh Peter of USA Today reported that a family associate named Paul Price and Fournette's parents had set up a website to sell merchandise and build the prodigy's brand before he even set foot on the college gridiron.

Peter reported LSU is now investigating the matter, saying LSU attorney Bob Barton is already interviewing people involved with the website in question.

According to Fournette's mother, Lory, the website shut down approximately 24 hours after it launched ahead of LSU's 2014 season opener once the NCAA learned of its existence. "There's certain rules that just can't be broken," she said.

But the damage may have already been done, since the website was selling T-shirts and hats that stood to capitalize on Fournette's name, image or likeness—which is a direct NCAA violation.

Lory Fournette described Price as a family manager who reportedly paid $10,000 for the website to be built. Three companies that were supplying the Fournette team with merchandise offered a total discount of $20,000 in anticipation of a huge profit that never materialized.

Furthermore, IWD Agency owner Joe McFerrin indicated Price never paid back an owed amount of $14,682. McFerrin developed the website, and both he and merchandise creator Chris Hanley stated Price had cleared the project with the NCAA.

The merchandise featured the text "BUGA Nation," with the acronym standing for "Being United Generates Attitude."

Unfortunately, the actions of those close to Fournette may have him in hot water with the NCAA.

The Tigers are currently 7-0 and have ridden Fournette to immense success, as the 20-year-old wunderkind has amassed 1,352 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns.

The timing of Thursday's report is especially difficult, with LSU traveling to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama on Saturday in its biggest challenge of the season to date.

To have any hope of preserving their undefeated record, the Tigers must have Fournette fully focused on the task at hand. The reported website incident threatens to loom as a distraction as Fournette prepares to face a Crimson Tide defense that is yielding only 2.6 yards per carry this year.