Leonard Fournette’s final game in purple and gold will be on Dec. 31.
For a final time, after a season plagued with injuries — forcing the draft-eligible junior tailback to miss four games and play a minuscule role against Florida — Fournette, if healthy, will play his final game during LSU’s Citrus Bowl game against Louisville at the end of December, he announced Monday via Twitter.
Below is Fournette’s full message posted on Twitter Monday, including: “I will be declaring for the 2017 NFL Draft after our bowl game.”
For his final game, LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Fournette is working, “rehabbing,” his ankle to be well enough to play. But to be clear, the top-ranked recruit from the 2014 class wants to play, the coach said Sunday during a news conference.
“Yep,” Orgeron said. “He’s been in every meeting, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed wanting to go. He’s always indicated to me that he wants to represent the LSU Tigers in the best way. I don’t see any reason for anything to happen. If the injury prevents him, it prevents him. If he’s well, he’s going to be ready to go and he’s going to play.”
Added Fournette: “This has been a very trying season, but I have continued to fight to play the best of my ability. Each day I study and work and rehab with my coaches, trainers and teammates so that I can return to the field for the bowl game, and help our team bring home another victory.”
Fournette, a shifty and power running back, will leave LSU will handful of single-season and career rushing records. Fournette has 843 yards rushing and has scored eight touchdowns this season.
Fournette records
- Third in career touchdowns: 40 (Kevin Faulk, 46)
- First in single-season rushing yardage: 1,953 (3,830 career rushing yards)
- Single-season touchdown record: 22
- First player in LSU program history with three consecutive 200-yard games
LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette (7) rams Auburn sophomore defensive back Tray Matthews (28) during the Tigers' 45-21 victory against Auburn on Saturday, Sept.19, 2015, in Tiger Stadium.
