The Tigers are seemingly set to get a major offensive piece back as running back [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] did not enter his name into the 2023 NFL draft pool by Monday’s deadline. Emery, a senior from St. Rose, Louisiana, is now set to return for a fifth season of college football.
Emery’s return would mean every scholarship running back is set to return to the team in 2023. The news of Emery’s decision to return was first reported by On3’s Shea Dixon.
A former five-star recruit in the 2019 class, Emery saw sporadic action his first two seasons. He started three games in 2020, finishing second on the team in rushing with 378 yards. However, he would later miss the entire 2021 season — and the first two games in 2022 — with an academic suspension.
He appeared in 11 games this fall after returning to the field, making two starts, including in the SEC Championship against Georgia. He finished the season with 380 yards and six touchdowns, and he also caught two touchdown passes out of the backfield. He was the only LSU running back with a receiving touchdown in 2022.
Emery’s return gives LSU a crowded running back room entering the spring as it also returns [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag], [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag] while adding 2023 signees [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag].
There will almost certainly be some attrition here after spring, but for now, the Tigers’ backfield is looking like a strength entering next fall.
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