LSU Tigers

Guice, Guice Baby: Can Leonard Fournette get his job back when he is fully healthy?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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In the 3 games Derrius Guice has filled in for Leonard Fournette as a stater, he is averaging just over 17 carries for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns per game. With numbers like these, some fans may be wondering if Fournette can get his job back when he returns.

A little over two months before the season started, I wrote a piece on the disrespect that Athlon Sports had towards the LSU Backfield. In their opinion Nick Chubb and Sony Michel were the best one, two punch in the SEC. To date, the combination of Fournette and Guice has beaten out Chubb and Michel by 6 yards; in one fewer game.

Fournette has missed half of the young season due to injury, but still possess healthy numbers for his position. In the three games he’s played in, Fournette is averaging over 120 yards; with an average per carry of 5.8 and 2 total touchdowns.

Will Fournette be able to get his job back once he returns from injury?

However, in the games Guice has played the average per carry is almost doubled (9.1) and the touchdown total is tripled (6).

But those stats are for the season; what about the side by side as starters? In 3 games as a starter Fournette carried the ball 67 times for 386 yards and 2 touchdowns. With the same 3 starting opportunities, Guice carried the ball 52 times for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns. So what about the passing game? Well, Fournette has caught 9 balls for 69 yards and Guice has caught 4 for 61.

If you were to remove the recruiting rankings (Fournette was ranked No. 1 overall regardless of position in 2014) and the names from the back of the jerseys – and judge solely on production – Guice has proven to be the better option this season. So what does this mean when Fournette is healthy enough to return? LSU should have a lethal one, two punch in the backfield; but who is the starter for the Tigers going forward?

Guice provides a more explosive option for the Tigers in their backfield. However, will he have to relinquish his duties when Fournette is healthy enough to return?

There is an old adage in sports that says a legitimate player should never lose their starting job due to injury. The most famous of this unwritten rule was tested in 1925; up in the Bronx, NY. Now I am not in any way comparing Fournette to Wally Pip, and definitely not comparing Guice to Lou Gehrig!

However, Guice was mostly seen as a change of pace back; who would spell Fournette from time to time, as LSU’s main workhorse. But when the change of pace back proves that he can handle the role as the workhorse – and be more explosive doing it – that does leave the coaching staff with a tough decision on their hands.