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Emmett Johnson declares for NFL Draft

IMG_6599-2by: Tim Verghese12/05/25TimVerghese

Nebraska junior running back Emmett Johnson announced he will be declaring for the NFL Draft in a statement on social media 

“To the Nebraska fans, best fans in college football you guys have been amazing,” he said. “You guys have shown unwavering support since my freshman year, through the ups, through the downs and you guys mean the world to me. It’s going to be Husker Nation and GBR forever.”

He added.

“With that being said, after much prayer, reflection, talks with God, talks with my family, I’ve decided to chase my childhood dreams and declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.”

Johnson was honored as the Big Ten’s Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year and earned First Team All-Big Ten honors by coaches and media on Thursday. Johnson was the first Nebraska offensive player to earn first-team honors since tight end Austin Allen, who was voted by the media in 2021. He is the first Nebraska running back to do so since Ameer Abdullah in 2013.

Johnson fell short to Indiana quarterback and Heisman candidate Fernando Mendoza for the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year honor. He was named First Team All-Big Ten alongside Penn State’s Kaytron Allen.

This season, Johnson ran for 1,451 yards on 251 carries with 12 touchdowns, posting the first 1,000-yard rushing season by a Husker since 2018. He added another 370 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 46 receptions, the second-highest receptions season total by a running back in Husker history. Johnson finished the year leading Nebraska in carries, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, receptions, yards from scrimmage (1,821) and all-purpose yards.

Johnson finished the season ranked third nationally in rushing yards, but led the nation by accounting for 40.7 percent of his team’s total yards during the regular season. Johnson ranks second nationally in yards from scrimmage, yards from scrimmage per game (151.8) and all-purpose yards per game. He leads the country in receptions by a running back this season and ranks ninth nationally in total touchdowns, with 15 on the year.