'Put the offense in better positions': Emmett Johnson ready to lead Husker run game

LINCOLN, Neb. - From a late season charge in 2024, to traveling across Nebraska to countless high school basketball gyms, junior running back Emmett Johnson has been at the forefront of Husker football. 

Now, in 2025, he'll be the heart and soul of the Nebraska run game. Last season, Johnson averaged five yards per attempt and scored a pair of touchdowns, playing behind Dante Dowdell who transferred from Nebraska this off-season. 

Johnson says his main goal this year is to provide more production for the Husker offense.

"Be explosive, record those long runs, and putting the offense in better positions to score," Johnson said. "So for me, I'm just doing a better job of reading the offense and the blocks and taking the next step to hitting those home runs and hitting those 70-80 yard runs."

But Johnson won't be the only valuable asset to Nebraska's ground game. The depth chart below Johnson will likley feature Kwinten Ives, Mekhi Nelson, and Isaiah Mozee who made the change from wideout to running back. 

While confident in the group at the position, Matt Rhule still hopes to see improvement through fall camp. 

"You can't just be a runner, you need to be able block and protect, you have to be an all around back," Rhule said. "We want to be multiple so there's a lot of tactical things we need to improve on."

Sharing the backfield with Johnson will be sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola. Johnson said he's seen Raiola's improvement throughout the offseason.

"He works his but off, man," Johnson said. "He's become a better leader, we watch film together, he knows when to call things out, when to check plays... He's just more experienced this year and I'm really excited for him."