Ed Orgeron gives update on RB John Emery

LSU running back John Emery’s status remains unclear ahead of LSU’s upcoming matchup against McNeese State on Saturday.

“It’s unknown right now,” LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said on Tuesday. “I will not know until the end of the week. Right now, he’s unavailable. That could change. I will not know that until Friday.”

Orgeron stated he didn’t know Emery would be unavailable against UCLA until the day before the game.

“LSU Coach O says he found out Friday morning before the UCLA game John Emery couldn’t play,” said WAFB reporter Jacques Doucet.

FOX, which is televised LSU’s loss against UCLA on Saturday, said on the telecast that John Emery was not dressed out for academic reasons. An LSU spokesman had previously said Emery was missing the game due to injury. Athletic department spokesman Cody Worsham later confirmed Emery’s absence was because of academic reasons

Emery missed much of LSU’s fall camp due to injury but had returned to practice last week and was expected to play on Saturday.

Last season, John Emery made ten appearances, starting three games for the Tigers. Emery rushed for 378 yards on 75 carries last season and caught 14 passes for 73 yards.

In Emery’s absence, Tyrion Davis-Price earned the majority of carries for LSU. As a team, LSU struggled, rushing for just 49 yards on 25 total carries.

John Emery was a five-star prospect coming out of high school in 2019. As a senior at Destrehan (LA.), Emery rushed for 1,693 yards and 26 TDs in leading his team to the 5A state semifinals.

As a freshman on LSU’s national championship team, Emery rushed for 188 yards and four touchdowns sitting behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Tyron Davis-Price and Chris Curry.

Kevontre Bradford back at LSU

LSU did receive good news in the running back room this week as Kevontre Bradford re-enrolled at LSU and rejoined the LSU Football team on Tuesday. Bradford transferred to Oklahoma in June after just one season at LSU but re-entered the transfer portal in August and found his way back in Baton Rouge.

As a freshman at LSU, Kevontre Bradford appeared in five games, rushing ten times for 58 yards and had a touchdown reception. Coming out of Lancaster High School in Texas, Bradford was a four-star prospect. In three seasons at Lancaster, Bradford rushed for more than 3,000 yards.