Leonard Fournette is breaking records in what could easily be a Heisman-winning season at LSU, but looking back at his high school workout no one should be surprised.

Fournette has been referred to as a "man amongst boys" on the collegiate field, and nothing was different back when he was a star athlete at St. Augustine High School. Much of his domination on the field can be credited to his intense workouts with strength and conditioning trainer, Eddie Compass.

Before his name was plastered across ESPN screens 24/7, Fournette trained with Compass—the former police chief of New Orleans—during his high school years from eighth to twelfth grade.

Compass was in a bad place after Katrina and at first, wasn't interested in training Fournette, or any kid for that matter.

 

When I saw Leonard in eighth grade, I put him through a little quick workout that most kids usually tap out after 15 minutes ... not Leonard. I worked him out for an hour and he wasn't even breathing hard. We clicked right away and he looked at me with that little look and said, 'You gonna be my trainer?' I said, 'I guess I am.' That's how it all started.

Over the next five years Compass worked with Fournette, training three days a week on their own in addition to the regular St. Augustine football practices. Compass said that when he met Fournette in eighth grade, he was in better shape at age 13 than most of the seniors in high school.

For lack of a better term, Compass' workout for Fournette was insane.

Three days a week Fournette would do between 1,000 and 1,500 sit-ups, 300 and 500 pushups and four to six sets of 10 to 15 pull-ups—and that wasn't all.

Around his junior year, Compass came up with a four-quarter workout concept, to simulate a real game time situation for Fournette's body.

I put him on an elliptical machine for 15 minutes on full speed. Then I put him on this inverted sit-up machine I have; it works your deep core and we'd do five sets of 50. Then I'd put him on the pull-up machine and he'd do three sets of 15 pull-ups with 80 percent of his body weight. And I have the perfect pushup bar, so I'd make him do 25 pushups plus 25 pushups with the stabilizing bar. Then I'd make him do 50 regular pushups. All of that would equal one quarter, he'd get three minutes of rest and we'd do the routine three more times.

It's a workout that even few college or professional players could even finish, and in high school, Fournette was doing it voluntarily on his own time with no moaning or complaining.

Fournette's hard work has translated into record-breaking numbers at LSU, as the star running back has amassed over 800 yards and 11 touchdowns in only four games so far this season. As impressive as that is, Compass says Fournette's athletic ability isn't even his best quality.

Leonard isn't just the greatest athlete I've ever been around, he's the greatest person I have ever been around. He's more giving and loving and humble and selfless than any person I've ever been around. My daughter used to swim and he'd come to all her swimming meets to cheer her on because he knew it meant something to her. Now, he'd be tired from practice, but he made a point to be at my kids' games. That's who Leonard Fournette is.

Will Fournette win the Heisman this season? Either way, he's a special player to watch on the field.

Enjoy watching him play on Saturdays while you can.

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