2019 LA RB Has An ND Connection

BEAVERTON, Ore. – John Emery Jr. was one of the few underclassmen at The Opening here at Nike World Headquarters last week and the 2019 Louisiana running back sure was grateful.

“It’s great,” the 6-foot, 195-pounder said. “It’s a great experience.

“I’m blessed and I feel blessed. It’s a big opportunity, not too many people can come out here and compete and have fun and get this much gear, it’s great.”

In addition to the swag and competition, Emery was sure to take advantage of the opportunity to improve his game.

“I wanted to work on things I know I need to work on like footwork drills and stuff like that, my quickness too,” he said.

Emery has early offers from schools like LSU, Arkansas, Kansas, North Carolina, Georgia, Auburn, Michigan, Ole Miss and Tennessee, but said the process has actually been pretty calm so far.

“I’m not looking at any schools right now,” he said. “I was actually going to get my top 10 right when I get out of The Opening, but it’s really been a slow process right now because they really can’t talk to me.”

He hasn’t had extensive contact with college coaches just yet.

“Coach (Michael) Smith from Arkansas, we’ve been talking a little bit,” he said. “Colorado State, I had a talk with one of the running backs coaches, but other that, it’s been slow.

“It really hasn’t been too fast for me.”

Emery attends the same Destrehan High School that produced incoming Irish freshman wide receiver Michael Young.

“We really haven’t talked about it lately, but Michael has told me it’s great up there,” said Emery. “The relationships he had with the coaches and the environment are great up there.”

The Notre Dame coaches did make it down to Destrehan to check on Emery recently, but the communication has been limited to this point.

“When they did come down, we really couldn’t even have a conversation,” said Emery. “They introduced themselves and that was about it.”

He does know a bit about Notre Dame.

“I heard if you go there, you’re going to be successful either way it goes,” said Emery. “That’s all I really know about them. Football-wise, I know a couple of big receivers who came from Notre Dame.”

Would he seriously consider Notre Dame if the Irish seriously pursued him?

“I wouldn’t doubt it.”