If as expected Leonard Fournette leaves LSU early for the NFL after the 2016 season, he’s viewed by most draftniks as a sure-fire Top-10 pick in next year’s draft, if not Top Five. Just in case something detrimental happens along that road, Fournette has taken out some insurance -- literally.
According to a report from CBSSports.com‘s Dennis Dodd on the broader issue of insurance policies in collegiate athletics, Fournette confirmed that he is currently insured by not one but two separate $10 million policies. The policies were purchased by Fournette’s parents and, Dodd writes, “cover him for $10 million in total disability in the event of a career-ending injury and $10 million for circumstances that would lead to him falling from his projected NFL draft spot.”
It’s believed that the two policies cost an estimated $160,000 -- $8,000 per $1 million in coverage. Dodd also notes that "[t]he NCAA allows players to borrow against their future earnings for both total disability and (Loss of Draft Value) claims.”
Fournette’s acknowledgement of being covered is exceedingly rare as Ross Dellenger of the Baton Rouge Advocate writes that “Fournette, a rising junior expected to be a first round NFL draft pick next year, has declined to discuss his insurance policies with local reporters, and coach Les Miles has only said that his star running back is covered in some way.”
Fournette’s policies went into effect prior to the start of spring practice of his junior year this year, and continues a burgeoning trend in the sport -- one for which at least one former college football player is more than thankful.
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu sustained a very serious knee injury — ruptured ACL, dislocated patella — during practice in the run-up to Oregon’s playoff semifinal matchup with Florida State following the 2014 regular season. Projected to be a 2015 first-round pick by some or, at worst, a second-round pick by others, Ekpre-Olomu instead tumbled all the way to the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round, costing himself potentially millions of dollars in his initial NFL contract.
Ekpre-Olomu, with help from UO’s Student Assistant Fund, purchased a policy prior to the injury and was set to collect $3 million late last year. He’s one of only two players who have collected on those policies over the past 20 or so years.