From safety to running back to the emergency QB, Ju’Juan Johnson has always been there for LSU, but two seasons later, the sophomore is forced to make a tough decision, with his future in mind. Johnson will not be a part of the Tigers from next season. But will his decision have any consequences for this season?

The short answer is, ‘no.’ Ju’Juan Johnson confirmed via his X account that he will be ending this season with LSU. The Tigers are set to face the Houston Cougars on December 27th for the Texas Bowl.

“I am still playing in the bowl game!” tweeted Johnson on Wednesday. “Will finish this season off right with my teammates!”

But the decision came as Johnson struggled to find a consistent role at LSU. As a four-star recruit in the 2024 class, he arrived at LSU as a safety. But that wasn’t his permanent position. In 2024, running back John Emery’s season-ending ACL injury left the team with just three other scholarship RBs. And that lack of depth pushed Johnson to take the RB role midway through his freshman year.

Then Johnson took snaps as the QB to start this season. But when JT Lindsey was suspended, he slid back to the backfield to meet the team’s needs. Despite rotating through various positions, not by choice, he stayed loyal, always putting the team’s success first. But now, looks like he’s looking for stability at a single position.

Johnson has been vocal via social media about wanting to join a school that wants him at the QB position. That’s backed up by the fact that he was a record-setting high school QB in Louisiana history.

He dominated at Lafayette Christian Academy, racking up jaw-dropping numbers. In 2023, he was named Louisiana’s MaxPreps Player of the Year, and by the time he graduated, he had set state records with 14,451 total yards.

This season, he was third on the Tigers in rushing yards, averaging four yards per carry. Although he started strong, earning three or more carries in five of the first six games, his workload dwindled late, with just 10 carries over the final six contests.

Still, over his LSU career, he totaled 259 yards from scrimmage. He also added 36 yards as a freshman. With this talent and rising career, choosing a fresh start away from LSU may be his toughest decision yet, but stability matters more than loyalty for Johnson.

Now, while his decision to play in the bowl game is definitely big news for LSU, since his absence would leave a major hole, the Tigers aren’t short on options.

If Ju’Juan Johnson doesn’t play, will that affect LSU?

Well, LSU’s track record shows that they always have a plan B. So, the Tigers won’t be empty-handed without Johnson. Caden Durham and Harlem Berry are set to return, giving the Tigers a dangerous one-two punch. While Berry flashed star potential as a freshman, carving out a real role in the rotation, Durham, despite battling injuries, has been consistently productive. He is a former freshman starter who has averaged over five yards per carry. Despite that, the depth is thin.

LSU didn’t sign a running back in the 2026 class, leaving a gap that won’t fill itself. That means the Tigers will have to dip into the transfer portal to reload. But Johnson, who has two years of eligibility left, decided to enter the portal and is still playing in the bowl game. Is this allowed under NCAA rules?

The NCAA’s updated transfer portal rules give players 15 days to enter, with the window now locked in from January 2 to 16 each year. While CFP athletes still get a five-day grace period after their final game, coaching changes trigger only a 15-day window instead of the old 30. However, no one has to commit by the deadline; they just have to enter.

These tighter, clearer rules make Johnson’s choice even easier to understand. He can officially hit the portal while still suiting up for LSU in the Texas Bowl, without rushing his next move.