Tyrion Davis-Price pays tribute to Kevin Faulk after setting record in LSU win vs Florida

BATON ROUGE — Tyrion Davis-Price understood the responsibility of his jersey number before ever putting it on.

Davis-Price, a Baton Rouge native, grew up in the shadow of LSU football and its proud football history. It’s why he asked to wear Kevin Faulk’s famous No. 3 as a freshman. Not knowing at the time that Faulk, LSU’s all-time leading rusher, would become his running backs coach.

“I told him I was gonna hold it down and do the best I can,” Davis-Price said. “That’s a special number and I’m going to try my best to keep on doing what I’m doing.”

Davis-Price paid the ultimate tribute to Faulk, who took a leave of absence following his daughter’s death, in LSU’s 49-42 over No. 17 Florida on Saturday. The Tigers (4-3, 2-2 SEC) put the offense in Davis-Price’s hands. He responded by breaking Leonard Fournette’s single-game school rushing record with 287 yards and scored three touchdowns on 36 carries against the Gators (4-3, 2-3). 

Once his postgame obligations were finished, Davis-Price picked up the phone and called Faulk. 

“It’s a great honor just to know the guys who came before me and set the record,” Davis-Price. “The O-line really came with it and took it on. I just did my job and they did an amazing job. I’m just grateful for the opportunity that I had.

“The O-line did great and I’m going to do something special for them, I promise.”

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Perhaps this should have been expected all along. It’s very on brand for the LSU program. Where nothing is a given from week-to-week. Against Florida, nothing was a given even in pregame.

Right guard Chasen Hines, LSU’s best pulling lineman, was injured during pregame. This could have blown up the entire game plan, considering how much practice time the Tigers invested in counter-blocking schemes that require both guard and tackle to pull.

Sophomore Marlon Martinez stepped in for Hines and steadied the offensive line. Offensive coordinator Jake Peetz unveiled a new wrinkle against the Gators, lining up in unbalanced formations with backup tackle Garrett Dellinger playing tight end.

Peetz stuck with the run per LSU coach Ed Orgeron’s instructions, which allowed the Tigers to gain 321 yards on the ground.

“We got more physical during the game, and it helped our run game out,” Orgeron said. “That was something that we had never done before this season. I told our offensive line that they were the most improved group on the whole team.”

The offensive line, the most criticized position group at LSU, wore down the Gators in the fourth quarter. The Tigers ran for 134 yards in the fourth quarter alone, while the offense had its best outing of the season despite the loss of wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.

“I’ve been saying that we’ve definitely had our struggles, but it felt like we’ve been right there, so to put it together today with performances like that running the ball, it feels great,” center Liam Shanahan said.

“We started to click a little bit, and hopefully that is something that we can keep building on moving forward.”

Davis-Price almost surpassed his entire rushing total for the season against Florida. He came into the game with 288 yards and two touchdowns.

“Coach Peetz and the staff challenged us to go in and create a running game,” Davis-Price said. “The offensive line has been coming with it every day in practice, busting their tails and doing extra work.

“I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Adam Hunsucker covers LSU for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at ahunsucker@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @adam_hunsucker. Enjoy Adam’s work?  Consider a digital subscription for unlimited access.