Auburn’s Rudy Ford downplays stopping Leonard Fournette

The Auburn Tigers face off against their SEC rival LSU Tigers on Saturday, and one would think that the coaching staff and players would be wracking their brains over how to stop LSU running back and Heisman trophy contender Leonard Fournette.

Auburn defensive back Rudy Ford is not one of those people.

According to Tom Green of the Opelika-Auburn News, Ford said that he wasn’t even anticipating Fournette to even be much of a challenge for Auburn’s defense.

That’s big talk from a man who plays on a defense that could barely contain an FCS program last weekend. Sure, Fournette only managed 42 yards on 10 carries against Auburn as a freshman last year, but he is a different player now and the surefire No. 1 running back on LSU’s depth chart. In his team’s season opener against Mississippi State last weekend, he ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns on just 28 carries.

Though Auburn is sure to come out playing aggressively on both sides of the ball Saturday, especially with the game being nationally televised on CBS, Ford and his teammates should not underestimate Fournette.

Otherwise, the team will lose and find itself much lower than No. 18 in the rankings.

Kickoff is set for 3:3o p.m. ET.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports

Ex-Ohio State coach Jim Tressel to be honored Saturday
Ex-Ohio State coach Jim Tressel to be honored Saturday