Brian Kelly updates John Emery's playing status as 2022 season nears

Brian Kelly and the LSU offense could use some of the immense talent of running back John Emery this season, but his playing status is still under question.

Last season, Emery didn’t see the field due to his academic standing, but his picture for 2022 remains no more clear after the media spoke to Kelly on Saturday.

“There’s obviously things that I can’t talk about,” responded Kelly. “He’s in good standing in football. So everything that he’s done, he’s done a great job with us in football.”

Afterwards, Kelly was asked if Emery was on track to begin the season with LSU, which he once again plead the fifth.

“Everything that he’s done for us has been outstanding in football,” reiterated Kelly. “Anything else that arises would not be anything that I can comment on because of privacy rights, so I think you guys can put the rest together.”

Regardless, LSU could use John Emery and then some in 2022 — but it remains to be seen if the running back will see the field this season.

JD PicKell: 2022 is the year John Emery puts it all together for LSU

Moreover, John Emery is a former five-star recruit from the Class of 2019. Since he landed on campus at LSU, though, he hasn’t lived up to those high expectations. Still, Emery’s raw talent is clear. Now, in 2022, he has a chance to finally break out and have a great season on the field.

On3’s J.D. PicKell thinks that 2022 is going to be a great year for John Emery, with the expectation that he finally puts it all together.

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“John Emery is someone who missed most of last season due to academic standing,” J.D. PicKell said on The Hard Count. “And, I think this is the year he puts it all together.”

The people who J.D. PicKell has spoken to at LSU are incredibly high on John Emery, who has looked great during camp. That five-star talent is showing and now it has the chance to shine.

“It’s still early,” J.D, PicKell does warn. He hasn’t done anything in terms of situational football, yet, but John Emery is doing everything right to this point in camp. That should be exciting for LSU fans.

“But from what we’ve been able to see so far, he’s looked solid.”

LSU is a team going through numerous transitions, including moving to a new offense and figuring out who their quarterback is going to be. Being able to lean on a talented running back could help the offense as it adjusts. Whether or not John Emery can be that running back remains to be seen, but all signs point in a positive direction.