Fournette the best in a long parade of local talent

    If you haven’t seen him play, in person, you should. Leonard Fournette of St. Augustine High School is that good.
    For 32 years, I have had the privilege of covering high school football in metro New Orleans. I have seen my share of greats. They include Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and three future Hall of Fame locks: Eli and Peyton Manning and safety Ed Reed.
    Fournette is the best.
    Against Karr, Fournette caught a 93-yard pass for a touchdown. He also had a 10-yard touchdown run. And the best was his 63-yard touchdown pass from the wildcat formation. With pressure in his face, Fournette threw a strike to Marlon Watts. It was an elite play from an elite talent. A future Sunday player was making an NFL play on a Friday night.
    In a win over John Curtis, Fournette made a zig-zag run on a two-point conversion that tied the game. He did something incredibly rare in these parts. He bewildered a proud John Curtis defense.
    Late in the fourth quarter, Fournette’s helmet was knocked off after a vicious hit over the middle. Of course, he returned. He grabbed a screen pass from quarterback Toi Jackson, ran over a defender at the goal line and completed a 28-yard touchdown play. St. Aug made the two-point conversion to win 29-28.
    The next morning, on “The Three Tailgaters” radio show on WGSO radio, St. Aug head coach Cyril Crutchfield was still beaming.
    “In three years, Leonard will be in the NFL,” said Crutchfield.
    Barring some sort of serious injury, Crutchfield is correct. Fournette is this talented. For the next three years, he could tip the balance in the hotly contested Alabama/LSU series.
    Last season, Alabama scored on its final possession to win in Baton Rouge. LSU won by three in overtime in Tuscaloosa in 2011 and by three in regulation in Baton Rouge in 2010.
    The only lopsided game in recent series history was the 21-0 shutout Bama posted over LSU in the 2012 BCS Championship Game.
    Unless Fournette shocks the world and signs with Michigan, it is Alabama or LSU. For those two programs, the stakes are gigantic. Land him or play against him.
    Here’s some perspective for Alabama fans. He’s more talented than Trent Richardson. And, for you LSU fans, think about an upgrade from Jeremy Hill. And this is no slight on Hill. He’s a tremendous talent, a back who could very well have a very bright future in the NFL.
    But, Fournette is Fournette. And, that is special.
    So, if you haven’t seen him in person, by all means do. He’s a once-in-a-generation talent.
    Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].