LSU Football: It feels like a dark cloud is hovering over the Tigers

It feels like everything is going wrong for LSU football right now.

The Tigers were hoping to get off to a quick start in 2021 after a disappointing 5-5 season in 2020.

Those plans, however, were thwarted by UCLA in the season-opener earlier this month.

LSU fell to the Bruins 38-27 in Pasadena.

The Tigers beat McNeese State 34-7 this past weekend, but it was an uninspiring win that provided more questions than answers.

To make matters worse, LSU learned this week that they’ll be without a former five-star recruit for the rest of the season.

LSU Football RB John Emery will miss the rest of the season

According to multiple reports, Tigers running back John Emery will miss the rest of the 2021 season due to academic ineligibility.

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said on Monday that his status could change, but he also acknowledged that it’s out of his control.

This is definitely a tough loss for the Tigers. Emery, who was rated as the No. 13 overall player in the 2019 recruiting class, was expected to play a big role in LSU’s offense this season.

Now, the Tigers will have to turn to a couple of true freshmen in Armoni Goodwin and Corey Kiner — along with a new/old addition in Tre Bradford (who transferred back to LSU from Oklahoma) — to pair with Tyrion Davis-Price to lead LSU’s rushing attack.

Davis-Price is currently the Tigers’ leading rusher with 68 yards after two games, followed by Kiner with 56 yards.

LSU has the depth to withstand a loss to its running back room. But it’s still never ideal to lose a talented player.

At this point, it feels like there’s a dark cloud hovering over the Tigers’ football program.

Hopefully the skies clear soon.