The Huskers have added a high school running back to the 2022 recruiting class.
Nebraska added another piece to the future offense on signing day. Minnesota running back Emmett Johnson committed to the team. The running back announced his decision on Instagram Live.
The shifty running back from Minnesota has burst onto the scene for the Huskers in recent weeks. Johnson (6-0, 180) was in Lincoln for the matchup with Iowa on an unofficial visit. He liked what he saw in Lincoln and made a good impression on the coaching staff. The Huskers followed that up by coming to visit him during the first week of the contact period in December. He was visited by interim running backs coach Ron Brown. Interim quarterbacks coach Steve Cooper also made that trip. It was before offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple was hired.
Johnson was led to believe on that visit coach Scott Frost wanted to meet him in person on his official visit. Then he would offer him a scholarship. Johnson came on that visit last weekend and that offer came through.
“That was a blessing and it felt really good to get an offer,” Johnson said. “That was my first offer in-person. I got offers over the phone, but it was just it was a blessing. It’s something that I’ll remember for a long time. It just felt good to actually get the scholarship after all the hard work I put in.”
The Minnesota native was among the first recruits to meet with Whipple since he joined Nebraska. Johnson was impressed with Whipple and noted that he liked Pitt’s offense and he had watched their games. Johnson was named Mr. Football in Minnesota after rushing for 2,513 yards and 42 touchdowns. He’s now the lone running back in the Huskers’ class. Nevada running back Ashton Hayes left the class earlier in the week.
Johnson is one of the most intriguing players in the class. He doesn’t have a huge offer list. His senior season production and tools give him a chance to prove a lot of people wrong in college. He joins a crowded but unproven running back room at Nebraska in hopes of snagging some early playing time.
Greg is the Recruiting Analyst for Hail Varsity and has covered Husker athletics since 2013. He has always had a passion for sports while growing up in the Chicago area. As he got older and had to hang up his cleats and sneakers, he realized his passion for sports went beyond just watching and attending games. He has covered many events from the Rose Bowl to championship boxing matches. If he’s not talking sports, he’s hovering over his grill. He is married to an amazing woman, Kim, and they have a dog that barks when Greg yells at the TV during games.
