Leonard Fournette Comments on 2015 Heisman Snub, Reflects on 2015 Season
For a long time this season, LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette was on the shortlist of Heisman Trophy candidates. When the finalists were announced Monday, the sophomore sensation did not get an invite to New York City for the ceremony.
Fournette would have been justified if he expressed anger over being snubbed for college football's highest individual honor, but speaking to reporters Thursday (via ESPN.com), the Tigers star kept a level head about the situation: "Everybody was angry about the situation, especially my teammates. But like I told my coaches, my parents and the players on my team, everything happens for a reason. It is what it is. At the end of the day, the best running backs in the NFL didn't win the Heisman."
The 20-year-old, who isn't NFL draft-eligible until after next season, finished third in the nation with 1,741 rushing yards and tied for fifth with 18 rushing touchdowns.
Fournette trailed two Heisman finalists, Alabama's Derrick Henry (1,986 yards) and Christian McCaffrey (1,847 yards), in rushing yards. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is the third player competing for the Heisman this weekend.
Fournette also touched on what the 2015 season was like for him, being such a young player from New Orleans on the big stage in Baton Rouge.
"My brother was showing me a highlight tape someone made of me," Fournette said. "Just looking at it, I was like, 'Man, I did all that?' It was like a dream everything was coming so fast. I had a wonderful season. I enjoyed every bit of it."
There are many factors that go into determining which players are Heisman finalists, including how an individual performs in the biggest games. Fournette had a season-low 31 yards in prime-time against Alabama, while Henry had 210 yards against LSU's defense.
If the script was reversed, Fournette likely would have found himself in New York on Saturday night. That's how slim the margin between being a Heisman finalist and sitting at home watching someone else get handed the trophy can be.
Fournette will be in competition with Henry and McCaffrey on Thursday night for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's best running back, so he will have the opportunity to hold bragging rights over the Heisman contenders for a couple of days.
Next year, Fournette will be at or near the top of everyone's preseason Heisman ballot—not a bad position for the sensational running back to be in after a tremendous second season at LSU.
