Husker Emmett Johnson named running back of the year by the Big Ten
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Husker standout Emmett Johnson is the Big Ten’s top running back, the conference announced on Thursday.
Johnson is the winner of the conference’s Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year award after his breakout junior season with Nebraska.
Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year
Emmett Johnson | @HuskerFootball pic.twitter.com/CP4KnoxgtE
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) December 4, 2025
The Minnesota native rushed for 1,451 yards on 251 carries with 12 touchdowns. He is the first Husker to rush over 1,000 yards in a season since 2018.
Johnson is also the first Husker to ever have 100 rushing and receiving yards in a single game.
Nationally, Johnson led in receptions by a running back with 46 and ranked second in scrimmage yards with 1,821.
He is a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the collegiate player of the year.
If Johnson wins, he would become Nebraska’s second Maxwell Award recipient, joining Mike Rozier.
