Emmett Johnson

NFL Draft Profile: Emmett Johnson

Position: Running Back | School: Nebraska | Class: Redshirt Junior

Height: 5'11" | Weight: 200 lbs | Archetype: 3-Down Back (Elusive/Receiving Hybrid)

College Career Summary

Emmett Johnson’s 2025 season will go down as one of the greatest individual campaigns in Nebraska history. After spending his first two years as a rotational piece, Johnson exploded as the centerpiece of Matt Rhule and Dana Holgorsen’s offense. He became the first Husker to win the Big Ten Running Back of the Year (Ameche-Dayne Award) and was named a First-Team All-American all-purpose player.

Johnson led the nation in receptions by a running back (46) and finished the regular season with 1,821 yards from scrimmage, trailing only a few historic names in Big Ten lore. He joined Saquon Barkley as one of only two Big Ten players in the last 20 years to record 1,400+ rushing and 350+ receiving yards in a single season. On December 5, 2025, Johnson officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, cementing his status as a premier "riser" in this class.

2025 Regular Season Stats

• Rushing: 251 carries, 1,451 Yds, 12 TD (5.8 avg)

• Receiving: 46 receptions, 370 Yds, 3 TD (8.0 avg)

• Total TDs: 15

• All-Purpose: 1,821 Yards

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rush/Yds/TD	Rec/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Cincinnati	25/108/0	7/27/0	B+	Workhorse debut; handled 32 total touches with veteran poise.
2	vs Akron	14/140/2	2/7/1	A+	Efficiency King. 10.0 YPC and found the endzone 3 times.
4	vs #21 Michigan	19/65/0	5/32/0	B	Struggled for room but proved his value as a 3rd-down safety valve.
5	vs Michigan St	13/83/3	6/37/0	A	Career high in rushing TDs; surgical in red zone scenarios.
6	@ Maryland	21/176/0	2/20/0	A	Big Play Threat. 8.4 YPC; erased defensive angles with open-field juice.
7	@ Minnesota	14/63/0	5/37/0	C+	Stifled by homecoming pressure; offense lacked rhythm throughout.
8	vs Northwestern	27/124/2	2/15/0	A	The Closer. Scored the game-winning TD with 2:44 remaining.
9	vs #23 USC	29/165/1	2/15/0	A-	31 total touches; wore down a fast Trojan defense in the 4th.
10	@ UCLA	28/129/1	3/103/2	A+	The Record Breaker. 1st player in school history with 100/100 game.
11	@ Penn State	19/103/0	8/48/0	A-	Accounted for most of the offense; caught nearly everything thrown his way.
12	vs Iowa	29/217/1	2/22/0	A+	The Heisman Moment. Exploded for 217 yards vs. a Top-10 defense.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Leadership: Vocal leader who credits his growth to the coaching staff (Holgorsen/Rhule).

• Mental Toughness: A 3-star recruit who patiently waited for his turn and became a superstar.

• Competitor: Thrives in the 4th quarter; led Nebraska in "clutch" scoring drives.

• Star Power: The undisputed engine of the 2025 Huskers; 40.7% of team total yards.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 84/100

• Height/Weight: 5’11”, 200 lbs. (Under the 215 lbs target).

• Stamina: Elite. Averaged 26 touches per game over the final month of the season.

• Durability/Injury History: Medically clean. Played every game of a grueling 12-game Big Ten schedule.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 95/100

• Ball Security: Only one lost fumble in over 290 touches in 2025.

• Vision: Elite. Patient "slow to, fast through" runner; sets up blocks better than anyone in the class.

• Contact Balance: Surprisingly strong for 200 lbs; consistently falls forward and slips arm tackles.

• Catching: Pro-ready. Led all FBS RBs in receptions (46); runs real routes downfield.

• Pass Block: Above average; uses his low center of gravity to stone blitzing linebackers.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 90/100

• Speed: Functional home-run speed (70-yard long in 2025), but lacks "elite" world-class burner gear.

• Agility/COD: His best athletic trait. Can "slice through warm butter" with sudden lateral cuts.

• Acceleration: Elite burst once he identifies the crease.

• Break Tackle: Uses elusiveness more than power, but drives legs well.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 97/100

• Awareness: High-level spatial awareness; tracks the ball like a receiver and identifies blitzes early.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Historic production in the Big Ten; elite receiving floor (best pass-catching back in the draft); "one-cut" vision that thrives in zone schemes; exceptionally high football IQ.

• Weaknesses: Lacks prototypical "bell-cow" weight (currently 200 lbs); may struggle with a heavy NFL workload between the tackles if he doesn't add bulk.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for an Outside Zone / West Coast offense (e.g., Dolphins, Texans, Vikings).

• NFL Comparison: Tyjae Spears / Ameer Abdullah.

Scout's Final Word

"Emmett Johnson is the most polished 3-down back in this class. While he doesn't have the 220-lb frame of a traditional bruiser, his ability to destroy defenses in the passing game and his surgical vision in the zone run game make him a Day 1 NFL contributor. He’s a 'coach's dream' who won't turn the ball over and can play in any situation. Projected: Round 3."