All Huskers

Nebraska Running Back Emmett Johnson to Enter Transfer Portal

The sophomore's role increased late in the season under new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, but he will finish his collegiate career elsewhere.

Kaleb Henry

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson rushes for seven yards against Northern Iowa.
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson rushes for seven yards against Northern Iowa. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN
In this story:

Nebraska football's best running back down the stretch is headed to the transfer portal.

According to multiple reports, Husker sophomore running back Emmett Johnson will enter the portal when it opens this month. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Johnson arrived in Lincoln before the final season under Scott Frost. After redshirting that season, he went on to play in all 12 games in 2023, including six starts. His redshirt freshman campaign saw him take 90 carries for 411 yards and two touchdowns.

Nebraska Football
Offensive lineman Tyler Knaak lifts Emmett Johnson after Johnson's 36-yard touchdown run against Northern Iowa on Sept. 14, 2024. / Amarillo Mullen

This fall, Johnson again played in every game and made four starts. He had 102 carries for 523 yards, adding 35 catches for 262 yards and a touchdown. Those receptions are the most by a Husker running back since the 2007 season.

Johnson shined down the stretch, when Nebraska made the change to Dana Holgorsen as the offensive coordinator. Over the first nine games, Johnson averaged 6.4 carries and 31.6 yards per game. Over the final three games, he averaged 14.7 carries and 79.7 yards per game.

MORE: Matt Rhule Emphasizes Importance of In-State Recruiting for Nebraska Football

MORE: Carriker Chronicles: Update on QB Heinrich Haarberg's Status & More

MORE: How to Watch Nebraska Volleyball in NCAA First & Second Rounds

MORE: I-80 Club: Should We Be Worried About Dylan Raiola?

MORE: The Go Big Redcast: Anything Interesting Happen This Week?

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

Published |Modified
Kaleb Henry
KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

Home/Football