Former LSU running back Justin Vincent joins Eddie Kennison for the latest edition of the Geaux2Legends Podcast. Justin Vincent was one of the nation’s top running back prospects coming out of Barbe High School. Vincent was named a Parade and Prep Star All-American after rushing for 2,050 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior. He was named first-team 5A all-state and was recognized as Louisiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year. He was rated as the nation’s No. 3 running back prospect by Rivals.com and No. 14 by Super Prep. Vincent was a member of the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen, the New Orleans Times-Picayune Blue-Chip Top 15, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution Super Southern 100 and the Dallas Morning News Top 100. He was MVP of District 3-5A for the second-straight year and recipient of the Gridiron Great All-Star award. He was also named All-Southwest Louisiana and to the U.S. Army All-America team. Vincent left Barbe as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 5,464 yards on a school-record 904 carries and set school records for touchdowns in a career (75), rushing touchdowns in a career (68), points in a career (462), and career 100-yard games (28). He tied the school records for rushing touchdowns in a game (5 vs. New Iberia on Sept. 27, 2001) and touchdowns in a season (30 in 2001). He is the only player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards or more in three seasons. Vincent is a three-time first-team all-district and twice named first-team all-state. He also ran on the state champion 4×200-meter relay team as a junior. He was coached in high school by Jimmy Shaver.

In 2003, Justin Vincent put together the finest season for a freshman in LSU history, rushing for a freshman school record of 1,001 yards in leading the Tigers to a 13-1 overall mark and the national title. He answered the call when injuries forced Joseph Addai and Shyrone Carey to the sidelines in consecutive games midway through the season. Vincent started for the first time against South Carolina and responded with 77 yards and 2 TDs. He never relinquished the starting position as he followed his first start with 127 yards in a 31-7 win over Auburn in a game in which he out rushed Carnell Williams by 67 yards. Vincent capped the season with four straight 100-yard games, including an SEC Championship game record of 201 yards and 2 TDs in the 34-13 win over Georgia, and 117 yards and 1 TD vs. Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. In all, rushed for 100-plus yards five times. Vincent was named MVP of SEC title game as well as the Sugar Bowl. He ran for an 87-yard TD vs. Georgia, the longest rush in SEC Championship Game history and also had a 62-yard run vs. Georgia. Vincent opened the Nokia Sugar Bowl with a 64-yard run on the first play of the game against Oklahoma. Vincent broke Dalton Hilliard’s LSU freshmen rushing record, bettering the previous mark of 901, which was set in 1982. He rushed for 10 TDs, the second-highest total by a freshman in school history.

Justin Vincent capped his career as one of the most productive runners in school history with 2,021 yards and 17 touchdowns in 51 games as an LSU Tiger. He ranks eighth in LSU history in 100-yard games with six to his credit. He played in 51 games with 18 starts during his career. Vincent was named MVP of the 2003 SEC Championship Game as well as the 2003 BCS National Championship Game (Sugar Bowl). Vincent also earned the reputation as being a special teams standout during his LSU days, playing on the Tigers’ kickoff coverage unit. He had 28 special teams tackles during his four years with the Tigers.

Vincent signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons following the 2007 NFL Draft and later joined to Pittsburgh Steelers where he win Super Bowl XLIII. Following football, Vincent returned to LSU and now currently works for the Tiger Athletic Foundation.