Jaguars select RB Leonard Fournette with No. 4 pick in NFL draft

Leonard Fournette is joining the new generation of running backs to be selected early in the NFL draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected the former LSU standout on Thursday with the fourth pick in the first round.

At LSU, Fournette ran for 1,953 yards as a sophomore but was held in check by an ankle injury last year.

Fournette now will look to follow in the footsteps of recent running backs to be the first taken at their position. Ezekiel Elliott led the NFL in rushing last season after being drafted fourth overall by the Dallas Cowboys, and Todd Gurley was named offensive rookie of the year after being taken No. 10 overall by the Rams in 2015.

Fournette told USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell prior to the draft that he hoped the deep pool of talent at the position would reinforce the value of ball carriers.

“It’s not just me,” Fournette said. “When you look at Christian (McCaffrey), Dalvin (Cook) and Joe (Mixon), it shows that the running back position still has great value.”

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