Overview of 4th and South — “Fournette & Landry on WILD Nick Saban & Alabama recruitment, 2017 NFL draft RB class”
Hosts Jarvis Landry and Leonard “Lenny” Fournette (with conversational back-and-forth and lots of locker-room stories) discuss running-back rankings, the elite 2017 RB draft class, recruitment battles with Nick Saban/Alabama, LSU memories, college spring practice, and a bunch of pop-culture/sports tangents (F1 in Miami, baseball, cards, NIL/transfer culture). The episode mixes football analysis (how coaches/schemes affect players), personal recruiting anecdotes, humorous locker-room moments, and fan-focused takeaways.
Key topics covered
- Blind ranking of 5 current running backs (hosts’ picks and rationale)
- Christian McCaffrey — #1 (benefits of Shanahan’s scheme)
- Alvin Kamara — #2
- Joe Mixon — #3 (valued for versatility / every-down role)
- Dalvin Cook — #4 (discussed as a dominant, workload dog)
- Austin Ekeler — #5
- The strength of the 2017 RB draft class (Fournette, Cook, Kamara, CMC, Chubb, Kareem Hunt) and why that class remains elite.
- Christian McCaffrey’s move to San Francisco and how Kyle Shanahan’s offense elevates a back’s value.
- Joe Mixon’s departure from Cincinnati and the effect on the Bengals’ offense (run-game helping Burrow’s passing).
- Nick Saban / Alabama recruiting stories:
- Lenny’s near‑commitment to Alabama; Saban’s well-known interest in him; Saban quote referencing Fournette as an example of recruitment disappointment.
- Jarvis’s LSU recruitment experience and why family proximity (and LSU ties) helped decide his commitment.
- LSU nostalgia and assessment:
- Jarvis names his all‑time LSU RB Mount Rushmore (Kevin Faulk top, Jeremy Hill high, plus mentions of Joseph/Addai-style figures and Clyde — Clyde Edwards‑Helaire referenced).
- Praise for LSU’s 2011–12 roster and comparison with the 2019 championship team.
- Spring football / NIL / transfer culture:
- Spring practice excitement, focus on LSU’s offense under Lane Kiffin, and young players to watch (receivers, running backs).
- Coach-enforced standards (cleat controversy at Indiana as example).
- Personal & locker-room stories:
- Fournette and Landry reminisce about college practices, rivalry games, Jacksonville rookie season (2017 Jaguars), and on‑team antics (Popeyes box story, scuffle with Malik Jackson).
- Off-field interests and culture:
- F1 coming to Miami — both express excitement (Fournette team McLaren).
- Baseball / track background — Fournette notes he could’ve pursued baseball; track improved speed.
- Collectibles / Pokémon card market (Charizard sale anecdote) and interest in ripping packs for charity/sales.
- Short NFL roster discussion:
- Joe Flacco’s public claim he should be a starter; hosts debate where Flacco might land (New Orleans, Atlanta mentioned) and compare him to Jacoby Brissett via stats.
Main takeaways
- 2017 remains one of the deepest RB classes in recent memory; many members still influence the league.
- Scheme and coaching (e.g., Kyle Shanahan with CMC) materially change a player’s production and standing.
- Recruiting relationships matter—Saban’s targeting and emotional reaction to players choosing other schools is a big part of the story; proximity/family considerations still sway recruits (Jarvis chose LSU).
- Spring practice is important for development and fan preview; LSU under Lane Kiffin is a storyline to watch, especially at QB and receiver separation.
- The modern athlete’s life blends sports, entertainment, NIL, and lifestyle—players are increasingly involved in events beyond football (F1, cards, crypto culture, etc.).
Notable quotes & one-liners
- On doing what’s best for your career (about CMC leaving Carolina): “Do what you gotta do.”
- Nick Saban (quote read aloud about Leonard Fournette): “One of the hardest things about recruiting is that you really develop a relationship with these certain players, right? And it's very disappointing when you have a close relationship with these guys and they choose elsewhere… Leonard Fournette comes to mind.”
- On the value of the run game to an offense (re: Mixon/Bengals): “When Joe Mix was on a roll it took a lot off Joe Burrow in the passing game.”
- On LSU 2011–12: Jarvis calls that roster “one of the best LSU teams ever” and suggests they match up well against the 2019 champs.
Memorable anecdotes & moments
- Lenny’s near-commit to Alabama story: Nick Saban gave him a lake/4x4 experience; Lenny ultimately stayed in Louisiana to be near family and his daughter.
- Jarvis describing LSU’s 2011–12 squad and its “dogs everywhere” roster; recognized great teammates (Morris Claiborne, Tyrann Mathieu, Sam Montgomery).
- Rookie-year Jaguars: Fournette recalls bringing Popeyes for rookies and a confrontation with Malik Jackson (funny team friction story).
- Fournette’s F1 enthusiasm and preference for Team McLaren; both hosts excited about attending F1 in Miami.
- Pokémon collectibles discussion (and the Charizard sale reference) — shows athlete interest in alternative investments/collectibles.
Fan takeaways / suggested next steps
- If you’re an LSU or SEC fan: watch spring practice clips — focus on QB development, receiver separation, and which running backs emerge.
- Fantasy/Betting angle: re-evaluate RB value in light of scheme changes (e.g., CMC in Shanahan’s offense).
- Expect more athlete crossovers into events like F1 appearances, card/collectible drops, and charity pack openings — follow players’ social channels for special events.
- For podcast listeners: this episode blends locker-room authenticity with analysis; recommend listening for the storytelling if you enjoy behind-the-scenes recruiting/locker-room narratives.
Episode highlights (quick scan)
- RB blind rankings & 2017 class debate — early segment.
- Saban / Alabama recruiting anecdotes — mid-episode (Lenny & Jarvis both tell stories).
- LSU all-time RB list and 2011–12 team praise — middle-late.
- Spring practice / Indiana cleat controversy & NIL talk — later.
- F1, baseball, Pokemon cards & closing banter — end.
This episode is a mix of football evaluation and personality-driven storytelling — valuable for fans who want player perspective on recruitment choices, scheme fit for RBs, and authentic locker-room moments.