Before LSU played Syracuse, running back Leonard Fournette tweeted a picture of the Carrier Dome rafters with a caption paying homage to Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and Jim Brown. After the game, he spoke with Little, humbled by one of the best to play his own position.

In between, the Tigers’ sophomore rushed for 244 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-24 win over the Orange (3-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast). He became the first-ever LSU (3-0, 2-0 Southeastern) player to run for 200 yards in consecutive games in the same season. And as he continued his trek toward the Heisman Trophy, Fournette did so on the same grounds as three legendary Syracuse running backs he credits his meteoric rise to.

“Who wouldn’t want to come here,” Fournette said. “…just looking up to these guys.”

The only time SU could slow down Fournette for any stretch of time was when he was hit in his midsection and had to come out. Antwan Cordy brought Fournette down for a loss of 6 yards in the fourth, but at that point the sophomore had eclipsed 200 yards, which could’ve been 300 if not for a negated 87-yard touchdown run.

Both of Fournette’s touchdowns came in the end zone just below a picture of Davis that spans more than half a stadium section wide. He could very well be en route to the same fate as Davis’ 54 years ago, a season ending with college football’s highest individual honor.

Before the game, Fournette looked up Little and Brown. Little praised Fournette’s dissection of the SU defense and that he’d pray for Fournette’s success. The LSU standout used the word “legend” to describe Little, a classification for himself that he’s starting to set the foundation for.

“Syracuse started Running Back U,” Fournette said after the game. “It’s a great tradition here.”

Published on September 27, 2015 at 2:39 pm

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman