LSU running back John Emery Jr. will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, the team announced Wednesday. It's a major loss that will put even more pressure on a Tigers rushing attack that struggled to consistently generate positive plays in Week 1 against USC.
According to ESPN, the ligament tear occurred on Emery's left knee. The LSU running back spent much of the offseason recovering from an ACL tear in his right knee suffered during the 2023 season. He was on track to play a major role in the Tigers' offense this season after withdrawing his name from the transfer portal to return for a sixth season with the program.
Senior Josh Williams and freshman Kaleb Jackson should now be in line for more touches after combining for 47 yards on 14 carries in LSU's 27-20 Week 1 loss to USC.
In fact, Williams and Jackson each got touches on the Tigers' first series in their loss to the Trojans, while Emery's first carry didn't come until midway through the second quarter. However, the Tigers turned to the veteran in the second half, and Emery provided a spark with a 39-yard scamper that highlighted LSU's longest touchdown drive of the game. Emery finished with 61 yards on 10 carries and one reception for 10 yards.
A year ago, the Tigers relied on Heisman Trophy quarterback Jayden Daniels to lead their ground attack as he finished with 1,134 yards rushing. Notre Dame transfer Logan Diggs also provided a jolt in the traditional run game with 653 yards on 119 carries.
With Daniels off the to the NFL and Diggs gone to Ole Miss, the Tigers convinced Emery to withdraw from the portal in June and return for a sixth season with the program. But now that he's injured again, it will put more pressure on Jackson and Williams.
Running woes
Though USC appeared much improved defensively against LSU, the Tigers' inability to generate an effective running game was still concerning. They finished with a respectable 4.5 yards per carry, but 11 of their 26 rushing attempts went for two yards or less, and their average was inflated by Emery's 39-yard run.
Finding more consistency on the ground will be paramount for the Tigers as they seek to recover from the Week 1 misstep and mount a run at the first 12-team College Football Playoff. LSU hosts Nicholls on Saturday before opening conference play at South Carolina on Sept. 14.
One particularly haunting run play for LSU in the opener came on a third-and-1 at its own 30-yard line with the Tigers leading 17-13 and just over seven minutes remaining. USC stuffed Emery's rush attempt for a loss of one, which forced a punt. The Trojans got the football back and marched down the field for a go-ahead score.
Running the football effectively in that high-leverage moment could have meant the difference between a win and a loss for the Tigers. It'll be important for LSU's offensive line and for its other backs to be more effective in those moments if this is a team that's going to compete for the SEC title or a CFP bid.
Another setback for Emery
The injury news is just the latest blow for Emery in a six-year career with the Tigers that has featured plenty of setbacks. Ranked a five-star prospect in the Class of 2019, Emery was regarded as the top running back of his recruiting cycle by 247Sports.
After seeing limited action as a reserve in his first two seasons, Emery missed the 2021 season due to academic reasons. He continued serving a two-game suspension to begin the 2022 season before returning and scoring a career-best six touchdowns for the year. Taking a backseat to Daniels and Diggs, Emery had rushed for 121 yards last season before tearing his ACL against Florida.
If the NCAA grants Emery a medical redshirt, he would be eligible to return for a seventh season following his rehabilitation from this latest setback.