Know Your Foe, Nebraska vs. Maryland: The Running Backs

Nebraska takes on the Maryland Terapins on Saturday, and it's time to compare the running backs in the game.

Let's start with Nebraska: Emmett Johnson

Emmett Johnson has continued to be the workhorse for the Nebraska offense. The junior has carried the ball 84 times for 474 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, while adding 22 receptions for 110 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. His combination of agility, power, and versatility in the passing game has made him a cornerstone of Dana Holgorsen's explosive offense, making it difficult to limit his reps with a lack of experience behind him.

CAR	YDS	TD	AVG
84	474	7	5.6

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson celebrates the Hail Mary touchdown from Dylan Raiola to Jacory Barney Jr. against Michigan. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

REC	YDS	TD
22	110	1

Coming off a standout performance in a 38-27 win over Michigan State, Johnson racked up 83 yards on 13 carries with a career-high three touchdowns, plus six receptions for 37 yards. This followed a challenging 65-yard, 3.4 YPC outing against Michigan, showcasing his ability to rebound against tough defenses. The Huskers will look to lean on Johnson to exploit Maryland's run defense this weekend.

PFF grades highlight Johnson's impact across the board, with an overall grade of 73.3, excelling in the run game (77.2). His ability to handle a heavy workload while contributing in multiple facets makes him a matchup nightmare for opponents.

OFF	PASS	PBLK	RUN	RBLK
73.3	57.9	51.6	77.2	82.6

Emmett Johnson Big Ten Rankings:

Rushing Yards: 7th
Rushing Touchdowns: 7th (tied)
Total Touchdowns: 8th (8 total, 7 rushing, 1 receiving)
Rushing Carries: 5th
Rushing Yards per Game: 15th (94.8 YPG)

Johnson faces a tough challenge this Saturday against Maryland's tough rush defense, which ranks 24th nationally in rushing yards allowed per game.

Know your Foe:

Let's look at the RB position and compare Emmett Johnson and Nolan Ray.

Emmett Johnson - Junior
84 Carries 474 YDS 7 TD AVG 5.5

Nolan Ray - Sophomore
36 Carries 126 YDS 1 TD AVG 3.5#GBR #Huskers #MarylandTerps #GoTerps #Maryland #NBNR pic.twitter.com/GFt0iQDjbx
— No Block💥No Rockᴺᴮᴺᴿ (@NBNRPodcast) October 9, 2025

Now Let's look at DeJuan Williams & Nolan Ray

RB	CAR	YDS	TD	AVG
DeJuan Williams	59	209	1	3.5
Nolan Ray	36	126	1	3.5

DeJuan Williams has emerged as Maryland's lead back in 2025, providing a steady presence with his vision and toughness. The redshirt freshman has posted 59 carries for 209 yards and one touchdown over five games, highlighted by a career-best 10 carries for 54 yards in the Week 1 opener against FAU. Together, Nolan Ray and Williams form a young tandem tasked with revitalizing the Terps' run game, which ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten.

DeJuan Williams PFF through Week 6 | PFF

Ray has served as a complementary piece in Maryland's backfield in 2025, supporting quarterback Malik Washington in Mike Locksley's spread offense. The redshirt sophomore has 36 carries for 126 yards and one touchdown over five games, averaging 3.5 yards per carry. His role has been limited compared to teammate DeJuan Williams, as Maryland's ground game has struggled to find consistency.

Sep 13, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins running back Nolan Ray (2) | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Nebraska's run defense bounced back in a big way against Michigan State last week, only allowing 84 yards on the ground and holding Makhi Frazier (58 yards on 18 carries). John Butler's unit will look to put together another good performance against a Maryland team that has struggled to run the ball this season, ranking 128th in the country in rush offense.

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