By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
FOLLOW @LonnPhillips
On the back of a freshman campaign where the former Catholic High 5 star played nearly 900 snaps at right tackle, Emery Jones went through a debut gauntlet unlike any other for a first year SEC offensive lineman.
Battling future (and now present) NFL defensive ends, linebackers or defensive tackles, Jones shored up the right tackle position after a string of injuries to teammates over the first game or two.
Once Emery began mowing down opponents, his coaches took notice, with OL Coach Brad Davis wanting to speed up the process of his development.
After 26 very good snaps vs Southern, coupled with Cam Wire's injury, Jones played his way into an opportunity that accelerated his development as well as his rise.
Emery played 75 offensive snaps in just week 3 of his freshman year, registering a 76.9 pass blocking grade in LSU's comeback win over Mississippi State.
Yet there's a play by Jones from the same game that'll be remembered far more than his blocking:
Emery's extremely impressive, athletic hustle tackle in space during punt return coverage....driving LSU's fanbase wild with premonitions of greatness...."just how good is this young lad?"
Over the next 11 games, Emery would establish and fortify his reputation among the SEC's best offensive linemen, age be damned, while simultaneously setting an example for every future LSU freshman O-lineman....put on the 2022 Emery Jones tape, sit back and say, "this is how it's done..."
Maybe it wasn't in LSU's 2022 plans to start Emery 11 out of 14 games, however the move not only helped the former Catholic High protector develop years ahead of schedule, Jones was no debutant pushover, solidifying the right wing of Brad Davis' O-line with finesse, prowess and grinding physicality.
Playing every offensive snap against all 9 SEC opponents, he allowed 5 sacks (never more than 1 a game), 39 pressures, 33 QB Hurries, and 1 QB hit while maintaining a pass blocking efficiency in the 90s all season, finishing at 95.7, appearing in over 64 snaps during 11 contests (58 vs Purdue).
Jones finished off a historic freshman debut with high marks all around, earning a True Freshman All-American nod from ESPN, named to the 2022 Freshman All-American coaches' poll, alongside SEC Freshman of the Week nods during the season; LSU's versatile debutant also became an adored Tiger by the fanbase.....cast as a reliable piece of LSU's offensive framework going forward.
This past Spring, I met Emery for a quick conversation after a grueling early morning practice we'd been able to witness, full of long, arduous blocking drills, all as the Tigers only had 6 available scholarship OL on roster at that moment.
Making it through Spring healthy, I believe keeping Emery Jones fresh during fall is a key component of making sure the big man is firing on all cylinders for the entire road ahead.
We're talking January....
With the addition of 5 new offensive linemen to the group this summer, fall practice reps will be available for younger players, granting Emery much needed rest at crucial points before and throughout fall 2023 to avoid injury.
Forming a soon to be iconic bookend partnership alongside fellow 2022 freshman LT Will Campbell, both young Tigers are now counted on to lead LSU's offensive line over the next 2-3 years.....with Emery's versatility about to be a prime feature of his skill set as well as a major weapon for OL boss Brad Davis to call upon in 2023.
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
FOLLOW @LonnPhillips
©️ 2023 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
This O Line of which Emery is a critical piece can be as good as any in the country. I hope they are all injury free and I know they will be in peak condition.