LSU RB John Emery is back on the team after meeting academic requirements

LSU fifth-year senior running back John Emery has regained his standing with the team after he missed spring practice for academic reasons. Emery was not present on the first day of preseason camp Thursday, but head coach Brian Kelly said he was finishing an internship. Emery is expected to rejoin the team for practice Friday morning.

He was the only absent player. "He’s in great shape," Kelly said. "He’s done everything.

He’s been fabulous to work with. We’re proud of his accomplishments. " Kelly said at Southeastern Conference media days Emery was "in the process of being cleared" after his status remained uncertain coming out of the spring semester.

Emery, a former five-star recruit from St. Rose, missed the entire 2021 season and the first two games last year because he was academically ineligible, a decision the NCAA upheld after appeals. Emery had to meet certain academic requirements this year before he could practice.

On Thursday, Kelly said Emery needed to submit paperwork to the registrar’s office. "Instead of rushing out here with his shoes untied, kind of running out on the field, we said, ‘Take care of it. You’ve gone this far and worked this hard.

Get this taken care of,'" Kelly said. "That’s what he’s doing today. " With Emery back in the fold, LSU has eight scholarship running backs.

Junior Armoni Goodwin and fifth-year senior Josh Williams were full participants on the first day after they missed spring practice with injuries. Goodwin, who missed the last four games in 2022, wore a brace on his left knee but often took reps with the first-team offense as the running backs rotated through drills. .