Former five-star LSU running back announces return to program

There truly is no place like home. After announcing his intent to transfer earlier this offseason, former five-star LSU running back John Emery Jr has officially announced his return to the purple and gold for his final year of eligibility.

Former five-star John Emery Jr announces return for final year of eligibility

Sometimes, the biggest recruiting wins in college football are the ones that come from within your own walls.

Earlier this offseason, former five-star LSU running back John Emery Jr announced his intent to transfer from the program for his final year of eligibility. At the time, many fans had mixed emotions about it. While he’s struggled to stay healthy and on the field over the course of his entire career, he has serious potential and was likely to provide significant depth at the position for the 2024 season.

As it would turn out, that potential and depth is officially staying with the purple and gold, as he took to his Instagram earlier this afternoon to announce his commitment to stay in Baton Rouge, LA for his final year of eligibility.

. @LSUfootball John Emery’s long collegiate journey continues with a 6th season at #LSU this fall. @LonnPhillips first shared the news. Emery will look to bounce back from a rough knee injury suffered late in the season against Florida. Hope he has nice moments in 2024!

— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) June 7, 2024

What the veteran will bring to the 2025 LSU running back room

It’s been a bit of a roller coaster of a five-year football career for the 6-foot, 224-pound running back out of Destrehan, LA. After entering the collegiate ranks as a five-star recruit and the No. 11 player nationally in the class of 2019, it appeared as though the Tigers had not only got one of the top players in Louisiana to stay in state, but they landed an elite ball carrier in the process.

Unfortunately as we stand nearly six years later, that impressive potential has struggled to shine through, as injuries and academic struggles would end up sidelining him far more than anyone would have liked.

Even so, in his five seasons with the program, the talented LSU running back has still managed to record 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns in 37 appearances, showing plenty of flashes when given the opportunity.

High-steppin’ to the end zone 😮‍💨

John Emery Jr. would not be denied! @LSUfootball pic.twitter.com/EAtrkSnVyx

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 2, 2022

Now, as he’s officially become part of a four-man position room for the Tigers in 2024, he’ll once again have an opportunity to make an impact for his home-state LSU football program.

While he’s unlikely to earn the starting role for the purple and gold, he’ll at the very least be able to provide veteran snaps in a position group that has just one other upperclassman available – 6th-Year Josh Williams. Other than Williams, expect to see a heavy dose of both sophomore Kaleb Jackson and freshman Caden Durham, as the offense looks to utilize their elite offensive line as much as possible throughout the coming season.

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