Thrice for Guice
LSU RB races into SEC record book, but biggest test of his career on the horizon
To be mentioned among Southeastern Conference legends Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker is a feat in and of itself, but to better them takes things to a different level. On Saturday, LSU running back Derrius Guice raced to his third game totaling rushes for 250 yards or more. Walker and Jackson each did it twice in their illustrious careers.
Guice, a junior, was electric for the Tigers in their 40-24 win last Saturday on the road against Ole Miss. He carried the ball against the Rebel defense 22 times for 276 yards, averaging 12.5 yards per carry, and a touchdown. As a sophomore, he gashed Arkansas for 252 yards and steamrolled Texas A&M for 285.
Finally out of the shadow of fellow Tiger back Leonard Fournette, who now plays on Sundays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Guice was one of the brightest stars entering the 2017 college football season. He started with back-to-back 100-yard games before injury limited him until last weekend. Healthy, he looked unstoppable against the Landshark defense, seemingly capable of breaking off long gains at will on the way to being named the Maxwell Award National Player of the Week.
This year, the 5’11”, 220 pound back has rushed for 711 yards on 124 attempts, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, and scored six touchdowns. In his career, he’s gained 2,534 yards rushing on 358 carries – a 7.1 yard per carry average – and scored 24 TDs. The versatile player also has six receptions out of the backfield for 42 (seven yards per catch) this season, and 20 catches for 168 yards (8.4 yards per catch) and a touchdown in his career.
There is no doubt Guice’s NFL Draft stock is rising. Although rookies do not earn the mega-paydays that they did a decade ago, he could easily be a first-round pick. That would mean he’d forgo his senior season at LSU. But there is still time to enjoy his collegiate career.
The Tigers (6-2 overall, 3-1 SEC) are off this week with a bye, but No. 1 Alabama (8-0 overall, 5-0 SEC) lurks next for the Bayou Bengals. The Crimson Tide is 51–25–5 all time versus LSU, and winner of the last six straight contests.
Bama is averaging 43.0 points and 499.8 total yards per game, while giving up an average of only 9.8 points and 236.0 yards per game (66.4 rushing) to their opponents. LSU, meanwhile, has scored an average of 27.4 points on 417.8 yards per game, and given up 20.0 points and 319.3 yards per game.
Guice and his teammates will have to be at the top of their game for the Tigers to better the Tide and loosen Alabama’s grip on first place in the SEC Western Division. That won’t guarantee LSU a place in the SEC Championship game, but at this point, beating former head coach Nick Saben, breaking Bama’s streak, and moving into first place in the division might be just as sweet for Tiger fans.
Most SEC games with 250+ yards rushing
LSU’s Derrius Guice rushed for 276 yards last Saturday against Ole Miss. It was the third time he has run for 250+ yards in a game, passing SEC legends Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson.
Player School Games
Derrius Guice LSU 3
Herschel Walker Georgia 2
Bo Jackson Auburn 2
Moe Williams Kentucky 2
