Five-Star Running Back John Emery Commits to LSU

LSU picked up one of the big remaining pieces of its 2019 recruiting class tonight with the verbal commitment of five-star tailback John Emery.

Emery is the No. 2 back in the country and a composite five-star prospect on 247 Sports, and was a major target for the LSU coaching staff in this cycle out of Destrehan High School. He originally committed to the Georgia Bulldogs in August, but decommitted shortly after LSU hammered the then-No. 2 Dawgs in October.

At 5-11 and 206 pounds, with a 4.42 forty time and a 37-inch vertical, Emery is considered one of the most explosive runners in the class, and was heavily pursued by programs across the country.

Rumors about the Louisiana native wanting to get out of state, or wanting to be the sole back in some classes abounded as Emery looked heavily at Alabama, Mississippi State and Penn State over the summer, even passing on some LSU recruiting events. But running backs coach Tommy Robinson and New Orleans-area recruiter Mickey Joseph stayed on Emery, and it looks like that persistence paid off.

Running back is a major need in this class, and with Emery in the fold the Tigers have two very good ones, along with Baton Rouge’s Tyrion Davis, a four-star. Emery is the No. 3 player in the state of Louisiana, and with his commitment that puts four of the top five players in the state and six of the top 10 committed, with receiver Devonta Lee still expected to choose LSU eventually, and defensive tackle Ishmael Sopsher likely to be a heated pursuit until National Signing Day in February.