Lanard Fournette gambled on craps for 16 minutes before he was discovered.
Lanard Fournette, the younger brother of LSU and Jacksonville Jaguars star running back Leonard Fornette, was arrested at a Baton Rouge casino for underage gambling. The 20-year old Fournette was using a fake ID to get into the casino.
Like his brother, Lanard Fournette plays for the LSU Tigers. LSU head coach Ed Orgeron is said to be aware of the arrest and NBC Sports reports that any discipline will be handled internally.
Leonard Fournette: Tigers Legend
Leonard Fournette, of course, is the bruising running back who was a phenom from the moment he stepped on the field for the LSU Tigers. After an exemplary career as a seeming man-among-boys in the SEC, Fournette entered the 2017 NFL Draft. In a league where running backs seldom command a high draft pick anymore, the elder Fournette was drafted 4th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Lanard Fournette, on the other hand, has yet to make an impact in NCAA Football. He signed with the LSU Tigers as a 3-star recruit in 2015 and was redshirted his Freshman year. In his redshirt freshman season, Lanard Fournette had only 5 carries for 13 rushing yards.
Baton Rouge Advocate Article
Becuase of his famous brother, it is big news to see Lanard Fournette arrested. The Baton Rouge Advocate reported the incident with a full description of his crime and arrest.
The Advocate noted, “Fournette…was arrested Monday after surveillance video showed and casino personnel confirmed he gained access to the gaming floor Saturday with a different ID than his own driver’s license, according to his arrest report.”
Fournette Used Someone Else’s ID Card
The report noted that Lanard Fournette got into the casino using one identification card at around 1:30 am in the morning, played 16 minutes at a craps table, and then went to the cashier to cash out his chips. Upon using high real ID card, the casino staff noted he was too young to be playing and called security.
The Baton Rogue Advocate continued: “Fournette, of Slidell, was detained at the casino, but left before the officer’s arrival, the report says. When casino security asked Fournette about the incident, Fournette said he used another person’s ID to enter the casino.”
He was arrested by the Baton Rouge Police Department and released on $1,000 bond. As a first-time offender, he is not likely to face serious legal jeopardy, though he will have to go through court proceedings and receive a criminal record.
Lanard Fournette in 2017 and Beyond
Whether the incident clouds Lanard Fournette’s ongoing career with the LSU Tigers is another matter. Plenty of college football players redshirt their first year in college and have little production in their first full year of participation. Especially at a major college program like Louisiana State, players often have to wait their turn to show their skills.
Leonard Fournette is the exception to the rule. It cannot be easy for his younger brother to live up to his reputation, especially attending the same school. That being said, standing out for legal troubles is no way to acquire a name for oneself.
