Leonard Fournette has a multi-million dollar decision to make.
The junior running back is eligible to enter the 2017 NFL Draft and could be playing his last game at Tiger Stadium on Saturday when the Tigers host No. 23 Florida at noon.
To some, the decision to leave college should be easy to make, especially when Fournette is projected to be selected near the top 10 of the NFL Draft.
The two $10 million insurance policies Fournette’s family has taken out to protect the dashing junior tailback from injury prior to the Draft may make the decision even easier: leave for the NFL.
But deciding isn’t as easy as it seems, Fournette said.
“It’s a hard decision,” he said. “I love college. I love everything that it comes with.”
One decision Fournette did make was to play his junior season, regardless of possible injury — which isn’t exactly how the season has transpired, as the New Orleans native missed three games with a lingering high and low ankle sprain.
Although still suffering through a sore ankle, Fournette is good to go for Saturday, LSU coach Ed Orgeron said.
Making that choice to bypass his junior season and wait for the Draft could’ve been an easy one, but Fournette didn’t want to leave his teammates hanging.
“I could’ve sat out, but that’s not me,” Fournette said. “At the end of the day, I believe any athlete and any competitor loves to compete no matter what the circumstance is. I would never jump ship on those guys in there.”
Fournette described the 2016 season as the most “difficult” of his college career. The national championship he coveted is no longer in reach, and the coach who recruited him and signed him to a scholarship is no longer here.
Despite all the obstacles Fournette has faced this season, he was named a Doak Walker semifinalist, an honor given to the nation’s best running back. He can also break multiple LSU rushing records and a scenario could present itself allowing the Tigers to play in a bowl game — potentially the Sugar Bowl in Fournette’s home town, New Orleans.
“That’s just my character,” Fournette said about the adversity he’s faced this season. “That’s just how I was raised, how I was brought up. Despite your back being against the wall, you never give up. What are you going to do when your back is against the wall?”
To his teammates, Fournette is a leader who was able to set the tone with his style of play.
“Leonard’s been a great player on and off the field,” senior center Ethan Pocic said. “Great teammate and great leader in terms of pushing each other from workouts and practice. On the field, he kind of explains himself. Y’all see him set the tone when he runs people over.”
Some schools across the country are honoring draft-eligible juniors during senior day, such as Clemson, which will hold a ceremony for players Deshaun Watson, Wayne Gallman, Mike Williams and Artavis Scott.
While Fournette is not expected to be honored, LSU sophomore defensive end Arden Key said he thinks he should be.
“He’s done a lot of [good] for this program and this school outside of football,” Key said. “I really think he should be honored come senior night.”
Prior to Saturday, Fournette is fourth on LSU’s all-time rushing yards list, and seven rushing touchdowns away from breaking Kevin Faulk’s record.
Looking back on his career, Fournette said he’s had a lot of memorable runs, but he still can’t believe his run against Auburn defensive back Rudy Ford.
“I would say the Auburn game,” Fournette said. “Still to this day sometimes I can’t believe that.”