After finding his way into the endzone in his first week working as a running back, LSU football freshman Ju’Juan Johnson is looking likely as a continued impact player for the Tigers in 2024.
LSU football fans haven’t seen the last of freshman running back Ju’Juan Johnson making an impact
It would appear that a star is emerging before our eyes.
LSU freshman running back Ju’Juan Johnson has never been one to shy away from the spotlight. After taking Louisiana high school football by storm, breaking both the career touchdown and yardage records for the state, the star athlete would ultimately elect to stay in-state to play for the purple and gold – more than likely as a developmental cornerback.
However, after 6th-year senior John Emery Jr went down with yet another season ending ACL injury, the Tiger running back room suddenly looked like one of the least deep position groups on roster. In turn, coach Brian Kelly would look to the true freshman out of Lafayette, LA, as a means of providing some extra depth for his backfield.
Interestingly enough, even despite having just a few practices under his belt at the position, Johnson would end up finding his way onto the field, and it didn’t take him long to make a scoring impact for the purple and gold.
He’d go on to record three receptions from out of the backfield for 16 total yards and a first half touchdown that would put the Tigers up 23-14 just before halftime against Nicholls. Even better, it doesn’t seem like this is the last we’ll see of the immediate impact freshman, as coach Kelly had plenty of good to say about the soon-to-be star athlete while speaking with the media earlier this week.
“We’re gonna lay as much as we can. I would say as much as we can more so than a lot, and I think he’s capable,” the Tiger head coach began.
“Early indications are that he picks things up fast, he’s a quick study, the game comes easy to him and I’m a big believer in giving him as much as he can handle. And he’s not a guy that will shy away from any of it, so I’m excited. I want to just continue to give him more and more, and see where it goes.”
Officially rated as a four-star defensive back coming out of high school, scoring touchdowns as a running back in his very first season with the program was likely far from his expectations heading into college. With that said, he stayed flexible, and he clearly hasn’t lost his knack for the endzone, which could bode incredibly well for the Tigers as we look ahead to the remainder of the 2024 football season.
As we stand today, Johnson is more than likely the fourth running back on the depth chart, but with some of the best hands in the entire room, he very well could find himself with some solid snaps moving forward, especially in 3rd and long scenarios when quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will be trusted to make a play.
Ju’Juan Johnson will get his next opportunity to take the field this Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CST against the South Carolina Gamecocks. The big-time SEC matchup will take place in Columbia, SC at Williams-Brice Stadium and will be available to watch live on ABC.
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