Former Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson was the lone Cornhusker drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was selected in the fifth round with the 161st overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Johnson earned All-America honors and Big Ten Running Back of the Year, leading the nation in scrimmage yards per game (151.8) and all-purpose yards per game (151.8), while ranking second in total yards from scrimmage (1,821) and receptions by a running back (46), fourth in rushing yards (1,451) and rushing yards per game (120.9), sixth in carries (251), 11th in receiving yards by a running back (370) and 17th in total touchdowns (15). Johnson also led the nation by accounting for 40.7 percent of his team’s total yards during the regular season.
Johnson rushed for 1,451 yards on 251 carries with 12 touchdowns, posting the first 1,000-yard rushing season by a Husker since 2018 and the highest rushing total by a Nebraska player since Doak Walker Award finalist Ameer Abdullah had 1,611 rushing yards in 2014. As a receiver, Johnson led Nebraska with 46 receptions and totaled 370 receiving yards and three touchdowns. His 46 receptions were the second-highest season total by a running back in Husker history.
He is the 41st Nebraska running back drafted since the common draft era began (since 1967), tied for second-most by one school in the nation. He’s the first NU running back drafted since Andy Janovich in 2016.