For most coaches, one quality running back is a godsend, but not for LSU coach Les Miles.
Behind the hard-nosed style of Charles Scott and the explosiveness of Jeremy Hill, the Tigers’ backfield has always stabled a plethora of talent during the Les Miles era.
And 2015 is no different with LSU’s version of the “Four Horsemen” — sophomore Leonard Fournette, sophomore Darrel Williams, freshman Nick Brossette and freshman
Derrius Guice — powering past Tigers’ opponents’ week in and week out.
“It doesn’t matter who’s in the backfield,” said junior offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins. “All of them are at threat. We love that as a offensive line. It doesn’t matter who we are blocking for. We just know whoever is back there — they will handle their business as long as we open up holes for them.”
Since Miles took over the program in 2005, the Tigers have subscribed to the running-back-by-committee strategy, utilizing their depth at the position no matter the capabilities of their lead back.
The three most productive backs under Miles before Fournette — Stevan Ridley in 2010 Scott in 2008 and Hill in 2013 — averaged only 17.6 carries per game.
During his First-Team All-Southeastern Conference season in 2010, Ridley scored a rushing touchdown in 10 of LSU’s 13 games, including a career-best three-touchdown performance against Auburn on Oct. 23, 2010, on his way to tallying 1,147 yards on the season.
After becoming the first LSU running back to open a season with four consecutive 100-yard games since Charles Alexander in 1978, Scott posted 1,147 rushing yards and came one touchdown short of breaking the LSU program single-season rushing touchdown record with 18 in the 2008 season.
Along with recording the second-most rushing yards during a single season in LSU history with 1,401, Hill averaged a program record 6.9 yards per carry, translating to 116.8 yards per game on 16.9 carries per game.
Following his record-setting freshman season, Fournette came into the 2015 season as one of the unquestioned top backs in the country, threatening to disrupt the balance of the Tigers’ traditional workload at running back.
Through two games this season, Fournette’s numbers are more impressive than former Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon’s were in 2014, when he led the NCAA with 184.8 yards on 24.5 rushes per game. Fournette currently leads the nation with 193.5 yards per game and is tied for the NCAA lead with 18 points per game.
Fournette’s numbers this season are threatening all-time school records, as he came just 22 yards short of breaking Alley Broussard’s LSU single-game rushing record set in 2004 with only 19 carries against Auburn.
“After one of his runs when the dude tried to tackle him high and Leonard just ran right through him, I ran up to the sideline and just looked at all the guys,” said freshman offensive lineman William Clapp. “I just said, ‘That kid is a freak.’’
While Fournette’s performance against Auburn garnered national attention and a possible Heisman Trophy run, the rest of the Tigers’ running backs upheld the notion that the Tigers have more than one back who can carve up the opposing defense.
Williams continued his role as a change of pace back to Fournette and tallied 41 yards on eight carries against Auburn after recording 45 yards against Mississippi State.
The youth in the Tigers’ backfield has catapulted Williams and Fournette into leadership roles after graduation of Terrence Magee and Kenny Hilliard.
From his first carry in the third quarter against Auburn, Guice’s powerful running style justified the hype surrounding his recruiting, averaging 9.2 yards per carry and tallying two runs longer than 10 yards in only six touches.
“Guice never gets tackled,” said senior offensive tackle Vadal Alexander. “It takes five guys to tackle him.”
Brossette also made his debut as a Tiger against Auburn, notching 13 yards on the ground on four carries.
Carrying on the Tigers’ tradition of running back depth, Guice and Brossette are ready to contribute during their freshmen season.
“Nick and Derrius have done a great job learning the offense,” Clapp said. “We really don’t miss a beat when any freshman comes in because they all prepare the right way. They’ve all worked their tails off in fall camp, so we really like they way they’ve been playing.”