Fulton was a freshman signee in 2016 as the No. 1 prospect in Louisiana and No. 6 cornerback in the nation, according to Rivals.com.
Miami wide receiver Evidence Njoku (83) and LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton (22) compete for a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. The pass was incomplete. LSU won 33-17. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins) (Photo: The Associated Press)
Because of Tre'Davious White, Kevin Toliver II, and Dwayne Thomas ahead of him at cornerback, he barely played that year. In brief appearances in three games, he made two tackles.
Better planning would have meant a red-shirt for him, particularly considering what would happen. Fulton missed the entire 2017 season on suspension by the NCAA for using someone else's clean urine for a drug test because — he later admitted — his urine would have tested positive for marijuana. By NCAA written rule, he should have missed all of the 2018 season as well.
But
the NCAA granted him a reprieve, possibly for good behavior,
LSU's relentless lobbying, and his many zero failed drug tests after he was turned in by an LSU official administering the test he fixed.
The NCAA never said exactly why, but it granted him a reduced sentence on Aug. 23 of last year and gave him back a season. He played in 2018, starting 10 games and rarely giving up big plays.
He injured his foot in the 10th game of the season at Arkansas and missed the rest of the season. After surgery in December, he was held out of spring practice.