This is the seventh installment of ‘Getting to 105’ and the fourth on offense. I established my 105 by first determining how many players are needed at each position. On offense, I decided on the following, 20 offensive linemen, 6 tight ends, 13 wide receivers, 5 quarterbacks, and 6 running backs for a total of (50).
Upon Matt Rhule’s arrival he suggested Nebraska would return to using a fullback and even had a fullback camp during recruiting. In the initial spring game, the first play from scrimmage was a fullback run by Janiran Bonner. For Husker fans it brought back hopes of seeing fullback play as seen from Andra Franklin, Tom Rathman, Cory Schlesinger, and Joel Makovicka. However, fans soon realized the resurrection of the fullback seen throughout the 80’s and 90’s was simply a dream.
With the arrival of Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator there is a better chance of seeing a fullback in the formation. But even then, the use of a fullback will be so infrequent that it’s doubtful Nebraska will list the position on the roster. Of the six running backs on the roster, I anticipate at least two will be bigger backs that can line up as a fullback if needed. And when down on the goal line, we’ll see a Ty Robison type like we did in the Pinstripe Bowl. So, with that reasoning, I have combined the fullback and running back position.
EJ Barthel returns as the running back coach. There were some questions about that occurring with the hiring of Holgorsen as the full-time OC and Barthel’s contract up for renewal at the end of October. However, it appears Barthel and Holgorsen are on good working terms, unless something changes before fall.
With Dana Holgorsen as the offensive coordinator fans were worried Nebraska would become an air-raid offense. But Holgorsen has grown as a coach since being a coordinator at Texas Tech under Mike Leach. In a four-game sample size since his arrival in Lincoln, the offense looks balanced. But one must figure Nebraska will rely on Raiola’s arm moving forward. The passing game is part of Holgorsen’s DNA and who he is. But he also knows running the ball opens the passing game up, especially with a shifty guy coming out of the backfield. I think the running backs are going to love playing in Holgorsen’s system. So, let’s look at the running backs.
I won’t spend much time on the guys that are gone. The Huskers lost 2 players to graduation, Maurice Mazzccua Jr. and Rahmir Johnson. Three players entered the transfer portal, Ryker Evans, Gabe Ervin, and Dante Dowdell. Emmett Johnson entered the portal and then withdrew his name a day later. Barrett Liebentritt and Trevor Ruth left the team.
The Huskers added 2 high school players and no one from the portal to replace the 7 players that are gone. There may be no room that was affected more by the 105-man roster limit than this one.
As of now the additions are as follows:
Recruits
Jamarion Parker, 5’11”, 175lbs, St. Louis, Mo.
Conner Booth, 6’0”, 210lbs, Wahoo, Ne.
Jamarion Parker was a four-star recruit who was heavily recruited by several big-name schools. As a senior he rushed for 1,780 yards on 168 carries for 24 TD’s. His junior season he rushed for 1,644 yards on 147 carries for 22 TD’s. He also caught 16 balls for 267 yards and 4 TD’s. He did not play his sophomore year but rushed for 243 yards and 4 TD’s his freshman year. Parker demonstrates elusiveness but needs to prove he can gut out the tough yardage at the next level. He has also shown the ability to play from the slot and possibly return kicks. As part of two state championship teams at Cardinal Ritter College Prep in St. Louis, he understands what winning is about.
Conner Booth rewrote high school record books in Nebraska during his four seasons at Wahoo Bishop Neumann. Booth logged multiple consecutive 100-yard games throughout his career. As a senior he rushed for 2,956 yards and 50 TD’s with a 11 yard per carry average. He also served as the team’s punter, averaging 38 yards per punt. As a junior he rushed for 2,159 yards and 31 TD’s. He also had 185 receiving yards and 8 TD’s. As a sophomore he rushed for 964 tards and 48 TD’s on 72 carries. Booth was a three-star recruit and was ranked by Rivals as one of the top 30 running backs in the 2025 class. A multi-sport athlete, Booth plans on playing baseball as well.
Portal Transfers
None
After losses and additions, the Huskers stand at 9 running backs. Of the 9 players on the roster there are 0 seniors, 1 junior, 2 sophomores, 4 red-shirt freshmen, and 2 true freshmen.
Current Roster
Emmett Johnson, 5’11”, 200lbs, Jr
Kwinton Ives, 6’3”, 210lbs, So
Makhi Nelson, 6’0”, 185lbs, RFr
Izaac Dickey, 5’10”, 215lbs, RFr
Kenneth Williams, 5’9”, 180, So
Rowdy Bauer, 5’11”, 190lbs, RFr
Trent Uhlir, 6’1”, 230lbs, RFr
With Dante Dowdell leaving for Kentucky Emmett Johnson returns as Nebraska’s leading rusher from last season. Several people will tell you that Dowdell left for more money. But it may have been more than that. In the 2024 season Emmett Johnson had 117 carries for 578 yards and 1 TD. He also had 39 catches, for 286 yards, and 2 TD’s. While Dowdell rushed for 614 yards and 12 TD’s on the season, with the arrival of Dana Holgorsen Johnson’s role increased. In the last four games including the bowl game, Johnson had 59 carries for 314 yards and 23 catches for 170 yards. That’s an average of 14.75 carries and 5.75 receptions per game. In comparison, in the 2023 season Johnson had 90 carries for 411 yards and 7 catches for 46 yards. Emmett Johnson will be Nebraska’s bell cow until the players behind him are proven.
Mekhi Nelson redshirted in 2024, getting one carry for two yards in the opening game against UTEP. He came to Nebraska as a three-star recruit after reclassifying and giving up his senior season at St. Thomas More prep school in Connecticut. He had transferred to St. Thomas after playing his junior and sophomore seasons at Wilkes-Barre High School. As a junior he rushed for 1,670 yards and 22 TD’s for an average of 7.6 yards per carry. As a sophomore he rushed for 586 yards and 9 TD’s while making 23 catches for 427 yards and 3 TD’s. Nelson is seen as a running back who can quickly shift gears and accelerate when needed. He runs with physicality.
Kwinton Ives played in 9 games as a redshirt freshman. He had 3 carries for 4 yards against UTEP and then got 2 carries for 1 yard against Indiana. In the Pinstripe Bowl he had a two-yard touchdown run. Ives was on kickoff returns and showed flashes with a 40-yard return against Indiana and a 18 yard return against UCLA. At 6’3” and 230 pounds, Ives is the biggest back on Nebraska’s roster. He will take over Dante Dowdell’s role entering the game in short yardage or power running situations. The only knock against Ives is that he runs upright, which typically does not suit short yardage runners. Ives was a three-star prospect out of Palmyra High School in New jersey. He rushed for over 3,000 yards and 49 touchdowns in his last two seasons averaging 10.1 yards per carry and 160.8 yards per game. He was a multi-sport athlete playing football, basketball and running track. He is a Matt Rhule favorite who we have yet to see flash.
Isaac Dickey is the running back version of Roman Mangini. Rhule talked about Mangini making the 105-man roster due to what he brought to the team in leadership, enthusiasm, and work ethic. Dickey has those same qualities and lives for Husker football. That may be enough to get him onto the roster.
The remaining running backs, Williams, Bauer, and Uhlir are wild cards who are unproven and will have to work to make the roster.
When looking at the running back room the numbers are already down from last season. There were 14 running backs on the roster last season. With the 2 freshman additions there are currently 9 on the roster. According to my numbers there are 6 spots available. That number could grow to 7, but I don’t believe it will be over that. And while there is a possibility of adding a running back from the portal, just remember, for every addition made through the portal, someone will be forced out.
If the season were to start today, and everyone healthy, my 4-deep would appear as follows:
Emmett Johnson, 5’11”, 200lbs, Jr
Makhi Nelson, 6’0”, 185lbs, RFr
Kwinton Ives, 6’3”, 210lbs, So
Jamarion Parker, 5’11”, 175lbs, St. Louis, Mo
Emmett Johnson has an opportunity to be the clear-cut starter. I think Holgorsen made that understood when Johnson entered the portal and then dropped back out. I’ve listed Nelson at number two. Holgorsen never flat out said it, but he implied he was impressed with one of the young backs. I’ve listed Nelson number two based on what I saw in the Big Red Preview open practice. But it could just as easily be Ives. I’ve listed Kwinton Ives as the number three back due to my seeing him as a specialty back, entering the game in short yardage. Unless Ives shows some breakaway ability, he’ll slide into Dowdell’s slot. Had Dowdell stayed, I think you would’ve seen his snap count shrink in Holgorsen’s offense. Jamarion Parker is number four, he’s too talented to keep off the field.
Once again, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Matt Rhule look at the spring portal for a more experienced running back if someone he likes enters. While this room is talented, with no seniors and just one junior, it’s short on experience.
Up next, we’ll look at the quarterbacks. A position that many fans aren’t worried about. But they need to remember that very few players play a full season without injury as Dylan Raiola did last season. Who is the man behind Raiola that can lead this team if needed.
All stats gathered from ESPN,com and The University of Nebraska’s official website.
Go to Off The Cob to see the current 105-man roster and more on Husker football.
