When more than 40 percent of a team’s roster is made up of freshmen, coaches, fans and veteran players have high expectations for the younger members of the team.
Not only is nearly half of LSU’s team comprised of freshmen, but that recruiting class also was named the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation by ESPN.com. Led by running back Leonard Fournette, the freshman class of 2014 has already been turning some heads.
Fournette, an ESPN.com five-star recruit from Saint Augustine High School in New Orleans, has become a staple of the Tigers’ offense in his short tenure at LSU. He leads the team in carries, rushing yards and is tied at 6 for the touchdown lead with senior running back Kenny Hilliard and sophomore receiver Travin Dural.
“Leonard can be as great as he wants to be,” junior offensive tackle Vadal Alexander said. “As everyone knows, he’s one of the most talented people in the country, and he’s just going to keep getting better.”
The freshman star is coming off of a 140-yard, two-touchdown performance against Florida, the best of his short career. These numbers were put up against a stingy defense boasting the second-best run defense in the Southeastern Conference.
“Leonard is a special talent. He’s going to do what he needs to do to run the ball like he runs the ball. Point, bang, period,” said senior center Elliott Porter. “140 yards, two touchdowns, it doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s a talent. We know that. We expect this out of him.”
Fournette isn’t the only running back making a name for himself. Classmate Darrel Williams, a Marrero, Louisiana native, is listed as a running back on the roster but has lined up at the fullback position and excelled in the role. On 39 carries, he has accumulated 188 yards and three touchdowns.
Freshmen are also proving themselves as an important part of the Tigers’ defense. Safeties John Battle and Devin Voorhies along with defensive back Ed Paris are players who haven’t seen much time on the field, but sophomore safety Rickey Jefferson said they’re still proving their worth.
“I think we have a bright future, to be honest, because all of those guys that I’m with, all the young guys, have a nice work ethic,” Jefferson said. “Ed Paris, John Battle, Devin Voorhies, those guys work very hard. I’m looking forward to playing with them if not toward the end of this year, next year for sure. Those guys are good.”
The most prominent freshman in LSU’s defensive backfield, however, is Jamal Adams.
The 6-foot, 206-pound safety has proven his role early on as a valuable asset for the Tigers. He is fifth on the LSU squad with 29 total tackles behind senior safety Ronald Martin and junior linebacker Kwon Alexander.
Along with his on-field skills, Jefferson says Adams also has some serious acting skills. On a punt in the second quarter against Florida, Adams was pushed by junior receiver Andre Debose and fell dramatically, drawing a 15-yard penalty against the Gators.
“I put it on my Twitter; that was so funny,” Jefferson said. “Jamal does stuff like that all the time. That was expected. He’s quite the actor.”
With two losses in its first seven games, some have suggested the 2014 season may be a rebuilding year for LSU and one that focuses on giving freshman some experience.
Alexander sees it differently.
“We don’t look at it as rebuilding. Just because you have a couple of losses does not mean the season is over with at all,” Alexander said. “A lot of great teams in LSU history have had two losses and still had great seasons. That’s the kind of team we want to be. You never know what’s going to happen. It’s the SEC. There have been crazier seasons than this.”
You can reach Michael Haarala on Twitter @haarala_TDR.