SEC Powerhouse Loses Star RB For Remainder Of Season to Injury

The LSU Tigers left Las Vegas over the weekend with a loss to the USC Trojans and now they have lost one of their better offensive weapons. Starting running back John Emery Jr. tore his ACL in practice earlier this week and is now out for the remainder of the season.

Emery had just come back from a torn ACL that he suffered in his right knee last season. This time, the injury happened in his left knee, leaving him looking for more answers.

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In the season-opening loss to USC, Emery put up 61 yards on 10 carries. He also caught one pass for 10 yards through the air.

Emery entered the transfer portal earlier this offseason but found his way back to LSU shortly before the year started. LSU revamped their offensive line this offseason to build more of a running game with Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels heading for the NFL.

He was expected to give the Tigers running game a boost this season so this is a significant blow to LSU for the year. The Tigers will now rely on senior Josh Williams and sophomore Kaleb Jackson to carry their running game for the remainder of the year.

Between the two players, Williams was the more productive running back against the Trojans. He posted 33 yards on the ground in nine rushing attempts. Jackson put up 18 yards on six carries, not showing much against a strong USC front.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly wasn’t happy with how the Tigers rushed the ball against USC, saying that they need to be more efficient moving forward. USC held the Tigers to 117 yards on the ground in the loss.

“We have to be more efficient with our running game,” Kelly said. “Where I sit and what I want is, when it’s third down, and everybody knows you want to run it, let’s be creative in running the football, but let’s execute at a high level. And we didn’t execute at the level we’re capable of executing.”

Losing Emery hurts the Tigers’ chances in the hunt to win the SEC. However, with the expanded College Football Playoff now in effect, LSU still has a chance to turn the season around if they can execute.

The season opener was a dud for the Tigers, but they’ll get another chance to right the ship when they face Nicholls State this weekend at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

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