Johnson Named Big Ten Running Back of the Year

Nebraska junior running back Emmett Johnson has been named the Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year as announced by the conference on Thursday. Johnson also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from both the coaches and media for his standout 2025 season.

Johnson is Nebraska’s first winner of the Ameche-Dayne Award and the first Husker to capture a positional award since Austin Allen was named the Big Ten’s Tight End of the Year in 2021. 

Johnson’s 2025 season has been one of the best by a running back in Nebraska football history. His 1,451 rushing yards rank in the top 10 in school history and the most by a Husker since 2014. Johnson has rushed for better than 100 yards eight times this season, including six times in conference play. Johnson’s average of 120.9 rushing yards per game leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally. 

Johnson also leads all FBS running backs with 46 receptions for 370 yards. His 1,821 yards from scrimmage rank second nationally and first among Power Four Conference players. 

His season stacks up well historically with Big Ten greats. Johnson is just the seventh Big Ten player since 1956 to have 1,400 rushing yards and 350 receiving yards in a season. Johnson and Penn State’s Saquon Barkley (2015) are the only Big Ten players to reach those milestones in the past 20 years. 

Two additional offensive players were recognized by the Big Ten on Thursday. Junior tight end Luke Lindenmeyer and senior offensive guard Rocco Spindler were both honorable-mention selections by the league’s coaches and media panel.

Lindenmeyer caught 28 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns, including a career-high seven receptions against Michigan. In his only season at Nebraska, Spindler was a key part of the Husker offensive line that led the way for Johnson’s award-winning season. 

Additionally, senior tight end Heinrich Haarberg was recognized as Nebraska’s recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. A fifth-year senior, Haarberg made the move to tight end this season after playing his first four years as a quarterback. Haarberg is also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. 

Nebraska All-Big Ten Honorees
Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year: Emmett Johnson

First-Team All-Big Ten:
Emmett Johnson, RB (Coaches, Media)

Second-Team All-Big Ten:
Kenneth Williams, Return Specialist (Media)

Third-Team All-Big Ten:
Kenneth Williams, Return Specialist (Coaches)
Jacory Barney Jr., Return Specialist (Media)

Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten:
Rocco Spindler, OG (Coaches, Media)
Luke Lindenmeyer, TE (Coaches, Media)
Andrew Marshall, CB (Coaches, Media)
DeShon Singleton, Safety (Coaches, Media)
Ceyair Wright, DB (Coaches, Media)
Javin Wright, LB (Coaches, Media)
Dasan McCullough, LB (Coaches)
Jacory Barney Jr., Return Specialist (Coaches)