Nebraska Football Position Preview: Running Backs

Here we go into the petri dish. I won’t lie to ya’, I think this is one of the dumber things being attempted in college football’s desperation to rake in what cash they can this fall. And that couldn’t happen without their practically free labor.

“Well, if you feel that way, then why are you writing about it, jackass??”

That’s a simple one. It’s because I’m decadent and depraved and my love of college football and the Huskers outweighs my determination to take a moral stand and boycott 2020 Covid-ball which is already a bit of shit-show with bare-bones healthy rosters, cancelled games and Big Ed’s LSU squad and its majority infected rate. I do take a shred of solace in knowing the difference between “need” and “want” unlike anyone who said the country “needs college football”.

I need food, water, shelter and a job to pay for those things. I want college football (really, really want it) and a drink or two with which to enjoy it. Some hot wings also but that’s a need/want crossover.

Enough with the sermon, let’s talk about the running back chart. Hint: it’s not complicated.

Returning Contributors From 2019

Dedrick Mills - 143 carries 769 yards 10 TDs, 15 rec 123 yds

Just about everyone who split time with Dedrick last year is gone. Wandale Robinson is moving primarily to receiver if the coaches can be believed. Mo Washington has disappeared wherever to do Mo Washington things. Wyatt Mazour has graduated and with a name like that, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear he started a gang that robs armored cars on horseback.

Anyway, after some problems early in the year, Dedrick started showing some patience and broke out in a big way by season’s end. Expect him to pick up where he left off.

Rahmir Johnson - 21 car 65 yds 1 TD

Rahmir got a few carries last year while playing 4 games to keep his redshirt and was a 4-star recruit in the 2019 class.

Ronald Thomkins - Injured

Georgia native Ronald Thompkins is coming off two torn ACL’s and is supposedly very close to full health. This might be the year we get to see his speed on display.

Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images

New Contributors For 2020

Sevion Morrison - Rivals **** - Tulsa, OK - #233 Rivals 250 - #14 RB
Marvin Scott III - Rivals *** - Port Orange, FL

With only three backs returning, Morrison and Scott are currently right there in the mix for backup carries according to HC Scott Frost and RB coach Ryan Held. A Rivals 4-star recruit and member of the Rivals250, Morrison is the one with more recruiting accolades. However, Scott’s offer list raises a few eyebrows as it includes Florida St, Michigan, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, S Carolina, Missouri, Miami, Georgia Tech and a little school called Alabama.

Fullbacks

Sorry, just kidding. Aw dammit (wiping away a tear)

Outlook

Dedrick Mills is the starter. Someone will come out of the crowd behind him and basically rest him.

There you go - in-depth analysis at its finest.

But seriously folks - with the way the offensive line improved over the course of last season while Dedrick was doing the same, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him run for around 1100 yards in the 9 game regular season. It’s obvious by now Frost’s wide-open spread offense relies very much on the run and Mills is primed for a big year.

As to the backups? Oh who the hell knows? I could take a guess and ramble on with a bunch of reasons why I believe it but I’ve got no clue. If you do, throw it in the comments below and we’ll award a year’s supply of jello and pellet gun ammo to any who guess correctly.*

(* - not really)