Brian Kelly expresses excitement for LSU's depth at running back

LSU‘s running back room took a hit over the weekend when John Emery Jr. was reportedly suspended for the first two games of the 2022 season. But LSU head coach Brian Kelly is still thrilled about his team’s depth at running back.

Even with Emery out to begin the year, there are a number of capable players in the running back room for LSU. Kelly went in depth on that position over the weekend, naming a number of players that could be big contributors on offense this season.

“Yeah as I mentioned, you guys know the situation with John Emery. I really can’t get into the specifics of that because of the Buckley Amendment, but he’s certainly a guy that’s going to be part of what we do this year,” Kelly said. “Then Noah Cain as I mentioned, was really impressed with him today. Armoni [Goodwin] is a guy that we’re going to count on. [Josh] Williams has been probably as consistent as any back that we’ve had. And Nick Demas has done a really nice job.”

Kelly knows he’ll need multiple running backs to have success at LSU

With the current makeup of LSU’s roster, Kelly knows that he will need many running backs to step up to help the offense have success on Saturdays. With no true star No. 1 running back, the Tigers have to hope that the current mix of bodies at the position will be enough to create enough production in 2022.

“Leonard Fournette is not in that backfield, so we don’t have like that marquee guy if you will,” said Kelly. “But all of them complement each other very well and I think we’ll be very effective at that position and I think each one of them can contribute in a manner that will allow us to be successful at the position.”

LSU’s two top leading rushers from last season – Tyrion Davis-Price and Corey Kiner – are both gone. Davis-Price is in the NFL while Kiner is now at Cincinnati. The Tigers added Noah Cain from Penn State out of the transfer portal, though, and with a plethora of young backs ready to step up into larger roles, the position could again turn into a strength if it all comes together early in 2022.

LSU kicks off its 2022 season in Week 1 in New Orleans on Sunday, Sept. 4 against Florida State. The Tigers then return to Tiger Stadium for three consecutive games at home to round out the month of September.