John Emery signs with UTSA

By Matt Moscona

John Emery’s seventh and final college football season will be a reunion of sorts. The former five-star running back has signed with UTSA where Tommie Robinson is currently the running back’s coach. Robinson was Emery’s position coach at LSU when he signed out of high school in the class of 2019.

Pete Nakos of On3 first reported the news.

BREAKING: LSU transfer RB John Emery Jr. has signed with UTSA, @PeteNakos_ reports.

Emery will play his 7th season of college football for the Roadrunners.https://t.co/cVqgK7RvNK pic.twitter.com/ROALD3jwJQ

— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) May 12, 2025

Emery missed all but one game of the 2024 season after tearing his ACL in practice. It was the second time in his LSU career that he suffered a torn ACL, the first one coming during the 2023 season. He also missed the 2021 season due to academic suspension.

Despite his academic issues, Emery graduated from LSU in May 2024 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Coming out of Destrehan (La.), Emery was the No. 12 overall recruit and No. 2 running back in 2019. He rushed for 188 yards and four touchdowns as a member of LSU’s 2019 national championship team.

LSU returns 2024 leading rusher Caden Durham along with rising junior Kaleb Jackson. The Tigers also added a pair of rushers in the 2025 class, including the top running back in the country, Harlem Berry. Trey Holly could also return to the team should his legal issues be resolved. He is expected to go to trial this summer.

The Tigers saw 23 players exit via the transfer portal, but added 18 which ranks as the top portal class in the country.