The countdown to kickoff has now reached double digits: less than 100 days, the Huskers will open their season at home against UTEP.
Last week we looked at the Husker University quarterback corps, and today we'll be looking at the running back corps this fall.
Let's start with the good news.
In 2023, Nebraska finished fourth in the Big Ten Conference in total rushing yards (2,122 yards) behind Michigan, Penn State, and Rutgers. Nebraska also finished 39th nationally in rushing yards.
Three Husker running backs who started at NU last year are back this fall: leading rusher Emmett Johnson returns, while the other two are Gabe Irvin Jr. and Ramir Johnson, both returning from season-ending injuries.
And even more good news!
The running back corps was so well-stocked in the offseason that Matt Lue signed just one scholarship running back: Dante Dowdell, a transfer from Oregon. If Lue has that much confidence in his running back corps, there's surely no bad news to report, right?
As Lee Corso says, there's no need to rush.
Now, for the bad news.
Question: Do you know who Nebraska's top running back was last year? Hint: it wasn't a running back.
The answer is quarterback Heinrich Hahlberg. Yes. So why is that bad news?
That's because Harburg was severely injured after eight games that he started and was unable to finish the season. Does anyone remember former Husker quarterback Adrian Martinez?
History has shown that when the Husker QB was the team's leading runner, the Husker have a losing record, and conversely, when the RB was the team's leading runner, NU have a winning record.
Last year in a 5-7 record, the Husker QB outgained the RB Room for 846 yards and 7 TDs to 654 yards and 4 TDs. That's right, the Husker QB outgained the Husker runners.
Here are the stats for 2023:
|
Quarterback |
Yard |
T.D. |
|---|---|---|
|
Haarberg |
477 |
Five |
|
Jeff Sims: 189 (1) |
189 |
1 |
|
Chava Purdy: 180 (1) |
180 |
1 |
|
Total: 846 (7TD) |
846 |
7 |
|
Running back |
Yard |
T.D. |
Height-Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Emmett Johnson |
411 |
2 |
5-11, 190 |
|
Gabe Irvin Jr. |
196 |
1 |
6-0, 220 |
|
Quinten Ives |
twenty three |
0 |
6-2, 185 |
|
Janilan Bonner |
9 |
1 |
6-2, 220 |
|
Ramir Johnson |
9 |
0 |
5-10, 185 |
|
Maurice Mezcua |
6 |
0 |
5-8, 175 |
|
total |
654 |
Four |
The captain is right: If the Huskers want a winning season this fall, the running back position needs to run the ball consistently andRead the team Quickly.
The only running back on Rhule's roster is Oregon transfer Dante Dowdell (6-foot-2, 215 pounds). His playing time was limited due to the Ducks' depth. His 2023 numbers are 90 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Can Dowdell provide some much-needed oomph to the Husker running game?
Here’s my take on the Husker running back room.
In order: 1.) Emmett Johnson, 2.) Ramir Johnson, 3.) Gabe Irvin, 4.) Dante Dowdell. Emmett Johnson is likely to be the starter if he's healthy. It remains to be seen if Irvin and R. Johnson can return close to 100%, but even if they do, will they stay healthy enough to be in the lineup throughout the season? Dowdell was a big prospect in the Huskers' spring games. He's a big, fast back who should thrive in the Big Ten.
It will be the development of the Husker offensive line that will determine how good NU's running game is (another captaincy moment).
Coach Matt Rhule's plan to use fullbacks in the offense didn't work out as well last season, and fullbacks Landon Turnus (6-0, 230), Barrett Leventritt (6-0, 235) and Trevor Roos (6-0, 235) could see action this fall.
The Big Ten Tournament was really exciting last week. Will Bolt's Husker baseball team won the tournament at Chuck in Omaha with a 5-0 record. The Huskers were blown out in the first game of the tournament by Ohio State, 15-2, and looked like they were going to be eliminated in no time, but Nebraska beat No. 8 seed Penn State, 2-1, to take the championship. What an accomplishment. It's the Huskers' first conference tournament win since joining the B1G. Congratulations to the Huskers. And what about you Husker fans? Over 13,000 people showed up for the 10 a.m. championship game.
Even more great news: The B1G has inked a deal with the MECA that will see the conference tournaments held in Omaha through 2027.
Will and I discussed the game change for the Huskers vs. Illinois home game, and of course we showed our love for the Huskers baseball team and got to see the Huskers RB Room this fall.
