Tag: John Emery Jr.

Brian Kelly updates injury report Thursday heading into Florida State game

Armoni Goodwin is officially out for this one, while Kimo Makane’ole was upgraded to probable.

Coach Brian Kelly is updating LSU’s injury reporting protocol to be more in line with that at the NFL level this season, and on Monday, we got our first injury report in the updated style.

Kelly provided additional information on the players currently dealing with injuries during his post-practice press conference on Thursday. We already know the Tigers will be without [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag], who is suspended, and [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag], who is “unavailable” according to Kelly until Week 3.

Here’s the full injury report provided by Kelly on Thursday. Of note, backup offensive lineman [autotag]Kimo Makane’ole[/autotag] was upgraded from questionable to probable.

  • RB [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag] (Out)
  • RB [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] (Probable)
  • OL [autotag]Kimo Makane’ole[/autotag] (Probable)

We knew that Goodwin likely wouldn’t be able to go in this one. He’s been limited in camp after recovering from a season-ending injury last fall, and he continues to deal with a hamstring injury.

Kelly seems optimistic that he will return soon, but in the meantime, LSU will turn to a hopefully healthy Williams and [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] as well as transfer [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag] and freshmen [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag].

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Brian Kelly addresses John Emery Jr.’s status with team

John Emery Jr. remains in good standing with the university and will be able to return in Week 3, per Brian Kelly.

[autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] has the potential to be an X-factor in LSU’s running back room this season.

The former five-star spent most of the offseason away from the team focusing on academics, but he made his return to the practice field in the middle of fall camp.

That’s why it raised eyebrows when coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] conspicuously (and vaguely) announced that Emery will be unavailable for the season-opener against Florida State on Sunday night.

Kelly reiterated that Emery is in good standing with the program but said that going into further detail would be a violation of the “Buckley Amendment.” Otherwise known as the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, the law governs access to educational records by public entities.

However, Kelly was able to say that Emery will be able to return to the field in Week 3.

It’s not exactly clear what’s keeping the veteran running back off the field at the moment, but it seems he will be able to make his season debut in Week 3 at Mississippi State.

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Brian Kelly says RB John Emery Jr. ‘unavailable’ for Week 1 against Florida State

Brian Kelly will be without one of his running backs for the season opener against Florida State on Sunday.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] will be without one of his running backs for the season opener against Florida State on Sunday. Kelly announced Wednesday morning that [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] will be unavailable to play this weekend.

Emery was not able to participate in any team activities this spring and summer due to academic issues. He returned to the team midway through fall camp after he apparently met the expectations the team set for him.

It is unclear if the academics continue to be an issue for him, but nevertheless, Emery will not play Sunday night against Florida State.

Emery, a fifth-year senior, was going to be vying for playing time against a loaded running back room. [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag], [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag], [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag], [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag], [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre Bradford[/autotag]. With Goodwin already ruled doubtful for Sunday’s game, the onus was placed on other running backs to produce.

This issue just puts Emery even further behind the eight ball if he wants to show that he is the guy. Now, he is giving one of the younger guys a chance to step up and make a great first impression on the coaches.

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Is Kaleb Jackson LSU’s next star running back?

LSU could have its next rushing star with freshman Kaleb Jackson

LSU’s running back room is flush with veteran options.

[autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag],[autotag] Logan Diggs[/autotag], [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag], [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag], and [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag] have 17 combined years under their belt. [autotag]Tre Bradford[/autotag], who had a cup of tea with Oklahoma after beginning his career at LSU in 2020 is back with the team too.

LSU lacks a proven star there, but there’s plenty of depth and experience.

But in fall camp, it’s a true freshman stealing the show.

[autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag], a blue-chip recruit who was top 10 overall in the state and top 10 nationally at his position, impressed in Saturday’s scrimmage.

He took a swing pass from [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], made a couple of guys miss and turned on the jets to take it to the house.

Jackson also notched an 18-yard touchdown run on the day and was tracked reaching speeds over 21 miles per hour.

For a guy who weighs in at 225, that’s elite speed.

From a physicality and athletic standpoint, Jackson looks to have everything you want in a running back. He’s shifty and can make defenders miss, but he also has the size to run through tackles.

That size paired with his pass-catching ability should make him a formidable option on passing downs too.

Expect LSU to stick with its veterans early in the year. Cain and Williams have the trust of the coaching staff right now, so it would make sense if they got the bulk of the snaps against Florida State.

But if Brian Kelly’s 2022 at LSU taught us anything, it’s that he’s going to get guys that can play in the game, even if it means making some schematic adjustments.

It’s early and Jackson will have to keep it up to chip away at the workload slated for the older guys, but expect to see Jackson contribute for LSU at some point this year.

He has the tools to be a star.

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Noah Cain and Josh Williams named to Doak Walker Award watch list

A pair of LSU running backs were named to the Doak Walker Award watch list.

LSU running backs [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] and [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] were named to the Doak Walker Award watchlist, the award annually given to the best running back in the country.

LSU’s running back room is crowded, but Cain and Williams have emerged as veteran leaders.

Cain, a Louisiana native who began his career at Penn State, transferred to LSU prior to 2022. Still working back from an injury, he saw his workload increase over the course of the year. He was LSU’s No. 1 back in spring practice as other running backs missed time.

Williams was a former walk-on who emerged as LSU’s most trusted rusher last year. He came up in big moments, picking up key first downs against Alabama and leading LSU’s offense at Arkansas.

With [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag] transferring in and [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] rejoining the team, it’s anyone’s guess how the carries will shake out this fall. LSU will likely take a running back-by-committee approach.

But Cain and Williams both have the trust of the team and coaching staff. Expect to see a decent bit of both guys, especially early in the year.

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LSU has a strong claim as Running Back U, according to ESPN

The Tigers have had no shortage of talent in the backfield over the years.

Though arguably the most notable LSU grad playing in the NFL right now is a quarterback ([autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag]), passing the ball has not exactly been the Tigers’ identity over the years.

Instead, this school has tended to produce talented running backs, and quite a few of them, at that. In ESPN’s annual Position U rankings, which use data since 1998 to determine which school has been the most successful in producing running back talent, LSU ranked third behind Alabama and Wisconsin.

It’s easy to see why. Between recent players like [autotag]Leonard Fournette[/autotag], [autotag]Clyde Edwards-Helaire[/autotag], [autotag]Derrius Guice[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeremy Hill[/autotag] and older ones like [autotag]Kevin Faulk[/autotag], there’s been no shortage of running back talent in Baton Rouge.

This season is no different. Despite having a potential All-SEC QB coming back in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], this team has a loaded backfield with guys like [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag], [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag], [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] and [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] — along with others.

The ground game looks like it will remain a key part of LSU’s offensive identity during the [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] era.

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LSU RB John Emery Jr. misses first practice of fall but expected to return to team Friday

John Emery Jr. has been away from the team all offseason while focusing on academics.

The Tigers got some good news regarding running back [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] on Thursday.

Despite coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] sounding optimistic at SEC media days that he would be back for fall camp, Emery was notably absent during the first practice on Thursday.

However, after the session, Kelly said that Emery has been making excellent progress academically and will return to the field on Friday. Emery apparently had to finish up an internship on Thursday.

“He had to finish up an internship today, a final — he’s in great shape,” Kelly said. “Thanks for asking the question. He has done everything. He has been fabulous to work with. We’re proud of his accomplishments and he’ll be with us tomorrow but he had to get an internship finished up today, finish that paperwork, get that turned in to the registrar’s office.”

Emery has been away from the team all offseason as he focuses on academics. He previously missed the entire 2021 season and the beginning of the 2022 season due to academic suspension.

He’ll be rejoining a loaded running back room, but the former five-star brings talent and experience to the table as he looks to finally have that breakout campaign in an LSU uniform.

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2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 32 Tre Bradford

Tre Bradford has had a winding career, but he’s back with the Tigers this fall.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We are headed back to the loaded running back room to check out [autotag]Tre Bradford[/autotag], who signed with LSU out of high school then transferred to Oklahoma, and then back to LSU. He has played in six games making only one start in his career as a Tiger.

Bradford didn’t play in 2022, but he’s back on the roster to provide some depth this fall.

Tre Bradford Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Ht: 6-0

Wt: 208

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four Stars | No. 18 in Texas | No. 13 Running Back

Class in 2022: Did not play

Career Stats

Year G Att Yards YPA Rec Yards Total TDs
2020 5 10 58 5.8 3 13 1
2021 1 2 11 5.5 0 0 0

Depth Chart Overview

Bradford had high expectations when he signed at LSU as a top-150 prospect from Dallas in the 2020 recruiting class. He appeared in five games that year as a true freshman, but he saw minimal action. After only attempting 10 carries for 58 yards, he entered the transfer portal.

He landed at Oklahoma, but after just a handful of practices, he decided to re-enter the portal and returned to LSU shortly before the season started. Thanks to a rule allowing players to return to their original school before they’ve appeared in a certain number of practices at their new school, he was given eligibility in 2021.

In spite of that, he battled injuries and appeared in just one game, taking two carries for 11 yards. His only touchdown in two years came through the air,

As previously mentioned, LSU’s running back room is loaded with talent. It’s as if there are five or six different cooks all trying to cook in one kitchen. Bradford is going to compete for carries with [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag], [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag] and [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag].

Tre Bradford’s Photo Gallery

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 22 Armoni Goodwin

Armoni Goodwin is back from injury and looking to reclaim a spot in a deep running back rotation.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We continue our look at a loaded running back room with a player who looked to be on the verge of a breakout early in the 2022 season before injuries halted his progress. After missing the spring, [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag] is expected to be back at full strength for the start of the 2023 season and should be a key part of the rotation.

Armoni Goodwin Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama

Ht: 5-8

Wt: 200

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four Stars | No. 6 in Alabama | No. 7 Running Back

Class in 2022: Sophomore

Career Stats

Year G Att Yards YPA Rec Yards Total TDs
2021 6 16 65 4.1 2 5 0
2022 7 45 267 5.9 4 19 5

Depth Chart Overview

Goodwin is a former top-100 recruit in the 2021 class and a Birmingham, Alabama, native. LSU struggled to find success on the ground in 2021, and Goodwin only attempted 16 carries for 65 yards as a true freshman.

He saw a much bigger role entering his sophomore year and appeared in seven games with three starts against Southern, Mississippi State and New Mexico. His progress was then put on pause as an injury caused him to miss the next three games.

Goodwin returned to the field against Ole Miss but was limited to just three total carries in the next two games. In the latter contest against Arkansas, he suffered a season-ending injury.

After missing the spring, LSU will hope Goodwin can return to where he was last fall. Reps on this unit will be hard to come by, though. [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] is back, as is [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag], who saw starting reps in the spring. [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag] is an experienced transfer addition while [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] is a potential X-factor if he’s able to return.

Add in two talented true freshmen in [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag] — who was on campus for spring camp — and [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag], and Goodwin will have to impress in the fall to solidify a spot in the rotation.

Armoni Goodwin’s Photo Gallery

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 21 Noah Cain

We are headed back to the loaded running back room to check out one of the veterans of the group, Noah Cain.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We are headed back to the loaded running back room to check out one of the veterans of the group, Noah Cain. Cain transferred to LSU last year after spending three years at Penn State. He played in all 14 games last season making only three starts. He will be fighting for playing time again this fall.

Noah Cain Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Ht: 5-11

Wt: 220

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four stars, No. 6 running back in the class of 2019, No. 13 running back in Florida (IMG Academy)

Class in 2022: Junior

Career Stats

Year G Att Yards Average Touchdowns
2019 (Penn State) 10 84 443 44.3 8
2020 (Penn State) 1 3 13 13.0 0
2021 (Penn State) 13 106 350 26.9 4
2022 14 76 409 29.2 10

Depth Chart Overview

As previously mentioned, LSU’s running back room is loaded with talent. It’s as if there are five or six different cooks all trying to cook in one kitchen. Cain is going to compete for carries with [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag], [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag] and [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag]. I’m glad that I am not the one that has to divvy up the number of carries.

Noah Cain’s Photo Gallery