Fournette would like Moore FB

Published 7:32 am Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Surely LSU has learned its lesson.

Les Miles’ offense is one of the few in the more enlightened NCAA these days that even acknowledges a fullback.

But even the Tigers don’t go out of their way to promote or pamper the position.

LSU generally has a few scattered throughout the roster, usually refugees or outcasts from other positions. Still, they manage to stay as anonymous as possible.

You want to attract attention, be a big star and maybe date the homecoming queen? Then play somewhere glamorous, like left guard or deep snapper.

At least LSU gives scholarships exclusively for a deep snapper (also rare in the NCAA).

It’s much more rare at fullback, which rarely gets a full ride, at least to start a career.

Only an LSU fullback, it seems, could a player be in the federal witness protection program with his legal name stitched on the back of his jersey while standing in front of the biggest BMOC on campus in full view of 100,200 people every Saturday, not to mention a national television audience.

That’s why you probably don’t know who is the best news that’s returning for LSU’s offense this season.

It’s not a name you see in lights very often.

But Heisman Trophy hopeful Leonard Fournette calls J.D. Moore his flashlight, always leading the way.

Not that anybody outside the team really knew his name.

Even with the player who was hogging most of the nation’s headlines following closely on his tail the first half of the season, Moore managed to remain the generic “that guy.”

And everybody seemed comfortable with the arrangement — they did, that is, until he suddenly went missing for the meat of the schedule last season.

Then they noticed.

So, yeah, the biggest boost the offense might get this year could be the return of John David Moore at what might as well be labeled thankless fullback.

True, the big key/question mark is supposedly the alleged new and improved, take-charge Brandon Harris at quarterback.

And that would certainly be a big help.

But there was nothing wrong with LSU’s offense last year as long as Moore was mostly being ignored at fullback.

Moore, for the record, did not get a carry all season. Nor did he expect or seek one. You don’t get greedy at that spot.

He did catch one pass.

And ?— as a lesson learned the hard ?way — you can bet that lunacy won’t happen again.

It went for one (1) yard in the midst of a rout of South Carolina, maybe just to make a point. Perhaps they were actually throwing Moore a bone, a little reward for all of his diligent grunt work.

Never again.

It was the costliest single yard of the season for the Tigers, more proof that no good deed goes unpunished.

If only Moore could have grown alligator arms and whiffed on the lone pass tossed his way.

Instead, ever the good soldier, he cradled it in just before a Gamecocks defender cut his legs out from under him and sent him to the sidelines with an injured knee.

LSU maybe didn’t realize it at the time, but the offense wasn’t going to be the same again — and Fournette’s Heisman campaign was about to go down the tubes.

Fournette, following his flashlight, was coming off a school-record three consecutive 200-yard games — 228, 244 and 233 — when Moore went to the sidelines.

Moore tried to come back two games later, but it was wishful thinking. He made only a cameo appearance against Alabama before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, which required immediate, season-ending surgery.

Fournette managed only 31 yards against Alabama, admittedly a really good defense. Who knows what difference Moore might have made?

But, still missing his flashlight, Fournette was held to 91 the following week against Arkansas as the Tigers’ free-fall began, followed by just 108 in a loss to Ole Miss that capped the three-game derailment.

Bry’Kiethon Mouton tried to replace Moore and, to his credit, steadily got better as his playing time increased.

But Mouton, a true freshman, was a high school offensive star at Acadiana having to adjust to life away from the fast lane. It’s a different mind-set.

Moore, 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, was used to playing well off Broadway.

He was a tight end at Ruston High School who didn’t attract any scholarship offers. He gave tight end a go as a walk-on.

But perhaps heeding the Tigers’ constant, if unfounded, threats to throw more to tight ends, he quickly moved away from any possible brush with the limelight.

Fullback agreed with him. It also earned him a scholarship, if not fame.

But Fournette and the LSU team know who he is.

And having him back healthy might truly be the best news for the offense.

Just don’t try to get all fancy-pants and throw him a pass or tease him with a handoff.

l

Scooter Hobbs covers LSU

athletics. Email him at

shobbs@americanpress.com

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