After taking year off, Emmons ready to make an impact
After taking a year’s hiatus from football, former Alabama running back BJ Emmons is set to begin the next chapter of his career at Florida Atlantic.
Emmons, who played under coach Lane Kiffin at Alabama while Kiffin was the offensive coordinator, was one of the top prospects in FAU’s 2018 class but opted to take the season off from football.
“[I was] just really getting my head right mentally,” said the former four-star recruit on why he took last fall off.
“[I was] just putting things in perspective. It’s really more than a game to me now because I can change my life with this game.
“It’s a big change, but I’m ready for anything because I missed it so long.”
During his short tenure with the Crimson Tide in 2016, Emmons appeared in seven games while running for 173 yards and one touchdown. The Morganton, N.C., native suffered a foot injury later in the year that sidelined him for the remainder of that season.
Emmons, a 6-foot, 230-pound junior, was named the top-rated running back in the nation by Rivals.com and ESPN coming out of high school. As a senior at Freedom High, he rushed for 2,417 yards and tallied 41 touchdowns.
The consensus No. 2 player in the state of North Carolina chose Alabama over Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
“I think he’s a lot more mature now,” Kiffin said. “When we had him before, he was just a true freshman and, a lot of five-star kids have a big head coming in. They’ve always been the best player whereever they’ve been, so when you go back to junior college it’s a humbling experience.”
Following his time at Alabama, Emmons decided to attend Hutchinson Community College in Kansas for the 2017 season, where he recorded 694 yards and 10 touchdowns on 150 carries.
After his season at Hutchinson, 247sports.com listed Emmons as the No. 9 junior college running back and No. 33 overall prospect.
“I don’t think being off from FBS is that big of a deal because he did play in junior college,” Kiffin said. “There are tons of kids that go to junior college and come back and do really well. So hopefully he’ll be one of those.”
Emmons will try to fill the shoes of former Owls running back Devin “Motor” Singletary, who is tops in program history in career rushing yards (4,289) and rushing touchdowns (66).
Singletary declared for the NFL draft Dec. 12 and was soon followed by fellow running back Kerrith Whyte Jr., who announced his intent to enter the draft the next day.
Whyte finished his FAU career with 1,358 rushing yards and 11 scores, which placed him eighth in program history in career rushing touchdowns.
“A lot of people have been asking me about what Motor did and how you think you can contribute, being like the next Motor,” Emmons said.
“I didn’t come here to be that. I came here to be the best version of myself because I know my potential. I know that I’m blessed and that I have a gift.”
Emmons is considered the early favorite to win the starting spot with FAU lacking experience and depth at the running back position.