LSU’s John Emery Jr., who was once the No. 1 running back recruit in the 2019 class, has reportedly entered the transfer portal.
A graduate transfer, Emery has one year of eligibility remaining. He is working his way back from a torn ACL that ended his 2023 season prematurely.
Emery rushed for 121 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries in seven games last fall before getting injured. His best performance came against Auburn, when he gained 42 yards on six carries and found the end zone while adding one reception for 49 yards.
Overall, Emery’s career at LSU was met with multiple fits and starts. In 2020 and 2022, the Destrehan, La. showed some of his promise, rushing for 753 yards and nine touchdowns in 20 games.
However, Emery missed the entire 2021 season due to an academic suspension, and was suspended to begin the 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
As a true freshman in 2019, Emery appeared in 10 games for the Tigers’ national championship squad, rushing for 188 yards and four touchdowns on 39 carries. His final touchdown of the season came in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Oklahoma.
Emery’s top individual games came against Texas A&M in 2022, when he rushed for 55 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-23 loss and against Vanderbilt in 2020, when he topped 100 yards in a game for the only time in his career.