Emmett Johnson Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Dylan Widger/IMAGN Images)

School: Nebraska

Class: Redshirt Junior

Position: RB

HT: 5’11

WT: 200 lbs

Background: Emmett Johnson was a 3-star running back out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Johnson was a top 10 player in the state and top 75 running back in the class. Johnson played both sides of the ball for the Academy of Holy Angels. Emmett was named Mr. Football by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association in 2021. As a senior, Johnson ran for over 2,500 yards and 42 touchdowns. He was an all-state selection as a senior and won District MVP as both a junior and a senior. Emmett Johnson committed to play for Nebraska over Central Michigan, Western Kentucky, and others.

College: Johnson redshirted as a true freshman in 2022 after only appearing in 4 games. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, Johnson played in 12 games. He toted the rock 90 times for 411 yards and 2 touchdowns. In 2024, Johnson had 117 carries for 598 yards, but he also had 39 receptions to total 908 all-purpose yards. Emmett was a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and a finalist for the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back in 2025. He ran for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns on his way to an All-Big 10 First Team selection.

Strengths: Emmett Johnson runs with a vicious tenacity to run through contact without losing momentum. He stays on his feet and keeps his legs churning consistently through would-be-tacklers. He is also very light on his feet as he is an excellent mover. He has exceptional wiggle to get around defenders and find open space. He is a slippery runner and has the ability to make guys miss in the open field. When running on the outside, he has that burst to get to the next level of the defense and the top speed to break away. In between the tackles, he gets low and skinny to go almost undetected through mirky waters before shaking himself free. He also had the experience of a high workload at Nebraska; an NFL workload will not be a problem for Johnson. As a pass catcher, Johnson has a nice route tree at his disposal with reliable hands to go with it.

Weaknesses: Johnson does not run with enough strength and it can bring promising runs to a screeching halt. Linebackers at the second level can flatten Johnson at the point of attack. His running style may suggest a need for Johnson to add some muscle to his frame. Johnson moves from sideline to sideline too often instead of going north to south, wasting time trying to hit a grand slam instead of taking the doubles. Johnson is not good in pass protection and he may need to come off the field on obvious passing downs.

Conclusion: Emmett Johnson is one of the most electric ball carriers in his class. He is a threat for a house call on any given play. Consistently turning nothing into something, no play is dead when the ball is in his hands. Being able to handle that NFL workload makes him a more attractive option as well. Expect him to be a difference maker immediately.

Best Team Fits: KC, MIN, DAL

Player Comparison: James Cook

Player Grade: Round 1 (92.1)