Gabe Ervin gives personal expectations for 2023 season

When Nebraska takes the field for its season opener this week versus Minnesota, running back Gabe Ervin Jr. will line up in the backfield as the team’s starting running back. It was a well-earned honor for the junior running back.

Ervin started two games as a freshman in 2021 — including the season opener, becoming the first true freshman to start the first game of the year in recent memory — before suffering a season-ending injury.

His 2022 season wasn’t much to remember but this year is set to be his biggest season yet. Ervin told the media Friday his personal expectations for the campaign.

“I really want to be that bell cow in the offense,” Ervin said. “I really want to take that step forward…Protect the QB, catch the ball, run the ball, do my job and once I do all those three things, it’s just gonna take care of itself. Really everything’s gonna happen when I do my job. I just got to focus on doing my job and playing relentless, discipline and violent — RDV, the standard that coach Rhule probably has said all the time. If you those three things, everything is gonna take care of itself.”

The Cornhuskers have a strong running back room in 2023 with Anthony Grant, Emmett Johnson and Rahmir Johnson all likely to contribute positively in some way during the year.

Grant was the starting running back last season. He rushed for 915 yards on 218 carries last year, which was his first season with the program.

But he has dealt with fumbling issues in camp that has caused him to fall down the depth chart. He is the third-string running back behind Rahmir Johnson.

Emmett Johnson is the fourth-string running back but will likely contribute in the return game.

Ervin — who was a three-star running back out of Buford (Ga.) High in the 2021 recruiting cycle — said that just because he won the starting position doesn’t mean he can ride on those laurels as the season begins.

“I just did my job,” Ervin said. “When you put the work in from day one to now, good things happen. Like I said when I first got there, try not to think so much about the RB1, but [instead] just try and do me. That can all be taken for granted. I still have to show up every day and do my job the best way that I can.”