An awful blow for a guy who deserved to go out on top
Awful news out of Baton Rouge Wednesday morning as it was reported that sixth-year senior running back John Emery will miss the rest of the 2024 season after tearing his ACL.
Emery reportedly injured himself during practice Wednesday morning. It was a non-contact injury according to The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander. Emery tore his right ACL this past November in LSU’s win over Florida, but I’m not sure if he hurt the same knee today or if it’s his left knee.
Emery was a pleasant surprise in Sunday’s loss against USC. He led LSU in both carries, 10, and yards, 61, and was by far and away LSU’s best option at running back. Now that has been cruelly taken away from him once again.
Emery’s had about as heartbreaking a career as anyone in program history. He came to LSU as the No. 1 running back in the country back in 2019 and contributed to that national championship team. His only 100-yard game of his career came in the 2020 COVID season when he had 103 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt.
He never sat foot on the field in 2021 as Emery was deemed academically ineligible for that year literally days before the season began. His ineligibility extended in the 2022 season as Emery wasn’t allowed to play in the first two games of that season.
The 2022 season ended up being his best as a Tiger as Emery ran for 375 yards and six touchdowns, while also catching 13 passes for a pair of scores. Arguably the biggest touchdown of his career was his 30-yard reception in LSU’s upset win over Alabama in 2022.
John Emery Jr. has impressive moves. 7-0 LSU vs Alabama! pic.twitter.com/aLeP6GIjYX
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 6, 2022
Every season-ending injury is heartbreaking, but this one is especially gutting. Remember, Emery could have left after the 2021 season when he was ruled academically ineligible. By that point he was three years removed from high school so he was eligible to enter the NFL Draft if he so chose. He could have left after Ed Orgeron was fired; he could have left after he graduated from LSU, heck he almost ended up transferring to UCLA over the summer but he ultimately decided to spend the last year of his career where it started and it was taken away from him days after LSU’s opening game. I suppose Emery can look into getting a medical redshirt and possibly come back in 2025 for a seventh year, but that’s a decision he’ll have to make later on.
In the here and now though I’m wishing the absolute best to John Emery on the road to his recovery. He deserves it.