Why Emmett Johnson Deserves Your Full Attention

In today’s college football landscape, it’s easy for players to chase greener pastures, and just as easy for coaches to search for a “better” option in the portal. This offseason, both of those roads were on the table. Yet when it came time to make decisions, Nebraska’s staff chose to double down on Emmett Johnson as their featured back for 2025 and beyond. That alone speaks volumes.

Time and again this offseason, fans and media questioned if, not when, the Huskers would bring in another running back. But each time, the staff stuck to the same message: they believe in what they already have. That belief reflects both a vision for what Johnson can become in this offense and an understanding of the durability he'll need to carry the load as Nebraska’s bell-cow back in 2025.

2. Built for the Workload

Another reason for genuine optimism? Just look at Emmett Johnson. Since being knighted as Nebraska’s go-to back, it’s clear he’s taken the physical side of the job seriously. While the exact weight gain isn’t public, one glance at recent photos shows a back that has clearly been living in the weight room. That added size, paired with the proven elusiveness we’ve already seen on Saturdays, makes it easy to project Johnson handling 16–22 carries per game in 2025. He’s not just preparing for that workload; he’s making it clear to coaches that he’s ready to own it.

3. Made for the Scheme

Holgorsen’s arrival didn’t just keep Emmett Johnson in Lincoln; it unlocked a perfect match. Johnson totaled 385 yards in the final three games of 2024 after Holgorsen took over play-calling duties, including 198 yards on 24 touches against Wisconsin.

“He did a couple routine things that turned into explosive plays,” Holgorsen said this spring. “Just kept feeding him and challenged him to really work hard on making people miss.”

Johnson’s versatility, 598 rushing yards, 286 receiving yards, and the ability to line up in the slot, makes him a natural fit in a scheme built around spacing and mismatches.

“I don’t just want to be a running back,” Johnson said. “I feel like I’m a weapon.”

The staff agrees. Holgorsen called Johnson in as one of the first players to sit down for post-season talks and said he came away convinced he’s going to be “a special player here.” This offense is designed for playmakers in space, and Johnson is ready to thrive in it.

Add it all up, the coaching staff’s commitment, the offseason transformation, and the scheme fit, and it’s clear: Emmett Johnson isn’t just Nebraska’s starting running back, he’s the centerpiece of an offense ready to turn the page. If the Huskers are going to take a step forward in 2025, Johnson will almost certainly be leading the charge.

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