Leonard Fournette Signs with Roc Nation Sports: Latest Comments, Reaction

LSU running back Leonard Fournette has signed with the Roc Nation Sports agency, he announced Monday:

"

Excited to be apart of my new family, let's get it #BugaNation ❌ @RocNation pic.twitter.com/na7uz8i37o

— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) December 19, 2016"

Fournette joins a list of Roc Nation Sports clients that includes Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant, Dallas Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, Dallas Wings guard Skylar Diggins, Seattle Mariners slugger Robinson Cano and New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Fournette, 21, was projected to be the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft by Bleacher Report's Matt Miller in his latest mock draft. Miller also asked an AFC scout who he would draft—Fournette or Florida State's dynamic running back, Dalvin Cook:

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I'd take Fournette, and like I've told you before, it's because he's a rare athlete and talent. Cook plays in a great offense with NFL talent all around him. Fournette played with a sh--ty offensive situation, and I do think he slowed it down a little after getting hurt. But if you're scouting them as players and not producers, give me Fournette.

"

Indeed, Fournette has dealt with an ankle injury this year that is keeping him out of LSU's Citrus Bowl matchup against Louisville. That limited him to 843 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season, both career lows. Over his first two seasons at LSU, he rushed for a total of 2,987 yards and accumulated 33 total touchdowns.

His decision to skip the bowl game—a decision similarly chosen by Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey—has unsurprisingly caused debate. Sports personality Doug Gottlieb felt the decision was selfish:

Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports passed along an entirely different sentiment from a coach:

And Ian Kenyon of Bleacher Report saw the practical side of the move:

Regardless, Fournette's next stop is the NFL, where he'll be expected to be a difference-making back on the level of Ezekiel Elliott, the Dallas Cowboys running back who was drafted No. 4 overall last year and has rushed for 1,551 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.