Players currently committed: None
How we got here: The Huskers landed three talented running backs in the 2019 recruiting class. Junior College transfer Dedrick Mills, New Jersey’s Rahmir Johnson and Georgia runner Ronald Thompkins all signed with Nebraska. In a lot of ways, those three represent exactly what the Huskers are looking for in their backfield.
Mills has Power 5 experience, having led Georgia Tech in rushing a couple seasons ago. Playing in the triple option attack at the time, he took a pounding and was able to rip off 12 touchdowns. Johnson is a classic home run threat and can take one carry to the house at any point. Thompkins can do it all and is a mixture of the two backs. He is a real wildcard, considering he missed almost all of his senior season with a knee injury. Before that injury, he was in the conversation for the best play on that Grayson High School team that featured double-digit Power 5 players.
It’s expected that Mills and Johnson will be counted on during the 2019 season. Through most of spring practice, it felt like we were all waiting on the arrival of the newcomers for the running back race to really get going. As long as his court case is cleared up, we know Maurice Washington will be in the rotation which will give Nebraska a dangerous group. The potential is there for the running back room to be a strength of the team this year, we just need to see it on the field.
Where they go from here: Nebraska currently doesn’t have a running back committed in the 2020 class. However, the Huskers have hosted two top targets for official visits this summer. Marvin Scott III, a 3-star (HV Rating: 85.8) running back, was in Lincoln last month for an official visit. The Florida native is high on the Huskers but I do have some concerns about him going that far from home for college. I’m keeping a close eye on if the Florida Gators extend an offer to him or not. His recruitment may drag out in hopes of doing enough to get more big-time local attention.
Oklahoma 3-star (HV Rating 85.7) runner Sevion Morrison also took an official visit last month. The Edison star told Hail Varsity that he found a family vibe while he was in Lincoln and that is something he is really looking for in a future home. Nebraska is in a great position with Morrison and ideally, he would end up in the class this summer.
There are a couple of other backs to keep an eye out for as well. One in particular is Arizona running back Darvon Hubbard. Before he committed (and de-committed) from Ohio State, he had interest in Nebraska. Running back is a position that I could see a new big-time target emerging during the season after seeing the offense performing at a high level.
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.
