Leonard Fournette, named USA Today Player of the Year as a senior at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, was the top recruit in the 2014 signing class. Nearly every major college football program, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Texas, and USC, pursued him. However, it was no surprise when Fournette chose LSU, a local favorite, where he became a first-team All-American in 2015. During his time at LSU, he ran for 3,820 yards and scored 40 touchdowns before declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior year.
In a recent appearance on “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” hosted by NBA legend and LSU alum Shaquille O’Neal, Fournette—now 29 and a free agent after an eight-year NFL career, including a Super Bowl win with Tampa Bay—reflected on his recruiting process. He revealed that staying close to home and helping his family played a major role in his decision to choose LSU over other schools, including Alabama. He also admitted that his visit to Alabama didn’t impress him, saying, “It was weak,” adding that he had a daughter at the time and staying home was the best choice for his family.
Despite his college success, Alabama fans might recall that Fournette struggled against the Crimson Tide, going 0-3 against them during his LSU career. He totaled 143 rushing yards on 57 carries—an average of 2.51 yards per attempt—and scored just one touchdown in three losses to Alabama, who won the SEC Championship in each of those seasons and the national title in 2015.