AVENTURA — When it comes to running backs in the 2026 NFL draft, many consider Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love to be the sure-fire top prospect at the position.
After him, there’s a wide range of how running backs may be perceived come late April.
One versatile, speedy tailback who may catch the attention of scouts at next week’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis is Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson, who is training in South Florida at Bommarito Performance Systems.
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks is one analyst who has Johnson as the No. 2 running back in the 2026 draft. Some others have him lower within the top five, with Notre Dame’s Jadarian Prince, Washington’s Jonah Coleman and Penn State’s Kaytron Allen among others in that top group. Some prognosticators even have Johnson much lower.
Johnson had a remarkably prolific redshirt junior season for the Cornhuskers in 2025, leading the Big Ten in carries (251), rushing yards (1,451) and total touches (297) as he added 46 catches for 370 yards and scored 15 total touchdowns from scrimmage.
If the tape doesn’t do it for the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Johnson, he expects his testing at the combine will.
“I’m assuming, at the combine, I’ll put everybody on notice. So, it’s going to be really fun,” Johnson said last week after clocking his 40-yard dash time, which he wanted to keep confidential, as part of a mock combine with trainer Pete Bommarito.
“I felt good. I feel like my fastest, for sure, right now.”
Six days later, on Tuesday, he complemented that 40 by fine-tuning his first 20 yards of the sprint. That allowed him to avoid consecutive weeks running it before he records an official time in Indianapolis next week.
“A lot of faith and confidence. Some days, you feel like you get high on yourself. Some days, you get low on yourself. It’s really just a mental game of believing the process,” Johnson said. “It paid off. I’m super hungry. Coming out here and just running, seeing my time, I’m happy with it, but I’m just going to be striving for greatness.”
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson works out at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
University of Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor works out at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Indiana University cornerback D’Angelo Ponds works out at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. Ponds is a graduate of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young runs at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Boston College offensive tackle Logan Taylor runs at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Pete Bommarito instructs players on how to improve at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson runs the 40-yard dash at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
University of Miami linebacker Wesley Bissainthe works out at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Pete Bommarito times an athlete in the 40-yard dash at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
University of Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor is seen at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson works out at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Whether Johnson gets the recognition or not ahead of the draft, it’s nothing new to him. Nebraska was his only power-conference scholarship offer coming out of high school.
“I’ve always been the underdog,” he said. “I’ve always been overlooked my whole life, so it was just getting the opportunity to play on this stage. All I needed was that chance, and I showed the world this year.”
As Johnson trains in South Florida, could the Miami Dolphins’ new duo of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley be interested?
The Dolphins had their lone Pro Bowl selection last season come at running back, in De’Von Achane. As he has a year left on his rookie contract, and the new regime decides whether to offer him an extension, past leadership of ex-GM Chris Grier and ex-coach Mike McDaniel also drafted Jaylen Wright in 2024’s fourth round and Ollie Gordon II in the sixth round of 2025.
Johnson sees a little bit of Achane in his own abilities.
“I like watching Achane,” he said. “I feel like we got a lot of similarities, between me and his game. I’ve watched a lot of their tape, so I’m going to continue to do that, but any team that gives me a chance, I’ll be willing to go and change a franchise or go win a Super Bowl. So, whatever it takes, I’m willing to do that.”
When he interviews with teams in Indianapolis, he wants them to know that he’s an all-around playmaker who can run, catch and block. The receiving numbers speak for themselves.
“I’ve always had the natural traits,” he said of being a pass-catcher. “I can play a whole game at slot (receiver) if I wanted to. You see how the NFL’s trending now. You got to be able to catch the ball and run the ball. As you can see, Kenneth Walker’s a guy who just showed an example of that in the Super Bowl. Just being a weapon on the field, just getting to the next level I know I’ll be able to dominate.”
Johnson says he’ll watch current NFL tailbacks like Walker, Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, but he’s also an old soul who enjoys tape of LaDainian Tomlinson and even Barry Sanders.
“I feel like a lot of guys, they get caught up in the players today, but I like to study the greats,” he said. “There’s a lot of things I can take from their game that’ll help me today. If Barry was playing today, he’d be dominating. I just know that all the lessons I take from them will be helpful.”
Johnson has had mentors along the way, like recently named Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who attended the same high school, Academy of Holy Angels in the greater Minneapolis area. He named former Nebraska greats in Ameer Abdullah and Ndamukong Suh, a one-time Dolphins star, as others.
Johnson said he’s comfortable in all offensive schemes. The Dolphins’ offense, through the coaching change, should see a similar system as under McDaniel, which would likely involve plenty of outside zone in the run game.