#4 John Emery Jr. Season 2020
Returns for a sixth-year with the Tigers in 2024 … Signed with the Tigers in December of 2018 as one of the nation’s top prep running backs … One of only 2 players remaining on the roster who were members of the 2019 CFP National Championship team (Other is Josh Williams) … Has appeared in 37 games with 5 starts during his career … Rushed for 1,062 yards and 14 TDs … Caught 36 passes for 318 yards and 2 TDs … Best season came in 2022, rushing for 375 yards and 6 TDs and catching 13 passes for 129 yards and 2 scores … An every-down back who can catch the ball out of the backfield and protect the quarterback on passing downs … Explosive player with breakaway speed … Won’t get caught from behind … Has the toughness to run between the tackles as well … Excels when hitting the edge … Graduated in May of 2024 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
GRADUATE SEASON (2024)
Suffered season-ending injury before the home opener vs. Nicholls… LSU’s leading rusher in season opener vs. USC, recording 10 carries for 61 yards, including a long of 39.
FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR SEASON (2023)
Played in 7 games with no starts … Key part of LSU’s running back rotation … Rushed for 121 yards and a TD on 23 carries … Suffered season-ending injury against Florida in mid-November … Rushed for season-high 42 yards and a TD in win over Auburn … Also caught a career-long 49-yard pass vs. Auburn … Had 23 yards, including a 14-yard run, at Ole Miss … Rushed for 22 yards on 2 carries in win over Florida.
SENIOR SEASON (2022)
Returned to action in 2022 after missing all of 2021 … Appeared in 11 games with 2 starts (UAB and Georgia) … Rushed for 375 yards and 6 TDs on 76 carries … Caught 13 passes for 129 yards and 2 scores … Set a career-high with 3 rushing TDs at Texas A&M … Finished that contest with 9 carries for 55 yards … Also caught 3 passes for 11 yards against the Aggies … Scored what proved to be game-winning TD on a 20-yard run with 3:35 left in the contest in 21-17 victory over Auburn … Hauled in a 39-yard pass from Jayden Daniels just before halftime that put the ball at the Auburn 1-yard line … LSU scored a play later to pull to within 17-14 at halftime … Had first career receiving TD on a 7-yard reception from Daniels in first quarter of win over Florida … Against Alabama scored on a 30-yard TD reception from Daniels for the first points of the game, putting the Tigers up 7-0 at the 9:46 mark in second quarter … Capped season with 6 carries for 47 yards and a TD in Citrus Bowl win over Purdue.
JUNIOR SEASON (2021)
Did not play in 2021.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2020)
Appeared in nine games, starting three times … Second on team in rushing with 378 yards and three TDs … Led all running backs in receiving with 14 receptions for 73 yards … Had one 100-yard game, that coming against Vanderbilt with 103 yards and a TD on 12 carries … Rushed a career-best 18 times for 88 yards and a score in win over South Carolina … Other touchdown came on a 54-yard run against Alabama … Finished game against Crimson Tide with 79 yards on seven carries.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2019)
Played in 10 games with no starts … Rushed for 188 yards and four TDs on 39 carries … Caught six passes for 60 yards … Longest run of season came on 39-yard TD run against Arkansas … Rushed three times for seven yards, including a 6-yard TD, against Oklahoma … Rushed for 42 yards on two carries against Arkansas … Rushed for 51 yards on nine carries against Vanderbilt … Scored TDs on runs of 6 yards vs. Vanderbilt and 4 yards vs. Northwestern State … Carried eight times for 45 yards vs. Utah State.
HIGH SCHOOL
One of the nation’s most sought-after high school running backs in the Class of 2019 … The highest-rated running back to sign with LSU since Leonard Fournette in 2014 … Considered one of the top-five running backs in the nation… Rated a five-star prospect from Scout.com and 247sports… Considered a top-three player in the state of Louisiana and the No. 2 running back nationally by 247sports… A finalist for the Touchdown Club of Atlanta’s National Back of the Year… Competed in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game… Team posted a 13-2 mark his senior year … As a junior, piled up 1,029 all-purpose yards, scored nine touchdowns and averaged more than seven yards per carry in six games before suffering a season ending injury… As a senior, rushed for 1,693 yards and 26 TDs in leading his team to the 5A state semifinals.
JOHN EMERY JR.’S CAREER HIGHS
Rushing
Rushing attempts: 18 vs. South Carolina, 2020
Rushing yards: 103 at Vanderbilt, 2020
Rushing TDs: 3 at Texas A&M, 2022
Long rush: 54 vs. Alabama, 2020
Receiving
Receptions: 4 vs. Utah State, 2019
Receiving yards: 49 vs. Auburn, 2023
Receiving TDs: 1, 2x (Last: vs. Alabama, 2022; First: at Florida, 2022)
Long reception: 49 vs. Auburn, 2023