The 2026 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Emmett Johnson NFL Draft Profile.
For full rankings, mock drafts and live coverage, visit our NFL Draft hub.
Position: Running Back
School: Nebraska
Size: 5-foot-10 1/4, 202 pounds
Class: Redshirt Junior
2025 stats: 251 carries, 1,451 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 46 catches, 370 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
Johnson was a three-star prospect in the class of 2022 who signed with Nebraska out of Minnesota. He redshirted in his first season and didn’t play much. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he had 411 rushing yards, 46 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Nebraska won five games that season. In 2024, Johnson upped his production to 598 receiving yards, 286 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He helped the Cornhuskers win seven games. For the 2025 season, Johnson impressed with 1,451 rushing yards, 370 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. He led the team to another seven-win season.
Following the season, he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a mid-round pick.
Johnson is a great receiver for the position, which he showcased over the last two seasons. He can run a decent amount of routes for a running back and has the ability to separate from coverage. Johnson has good hands and is a threat with the ball in his hands. He is quarterback-friendly as a check-down option, but he can also do a bit more than that.
He shows the ability to create more yardage for himself with his elusiveness. Johnson has a nice juke move and can make defenders miss. Getting him the ball in space gives him a chance to show how many tackles he can avoid. He can pick up more than a lot of other running backs with the ball in his hands.
His vision is good as well. While he isn’t the most creative runner, he shows some patience to wait for a hole to open up. Once he sees the hole he gets upfield. He shows good decisiveness as a runner, which is aided by the fact that he sees the field pretty well. This vision extends to the open field, where he is able to pick up yardage by running to open space.
He has a decent size and weighed over 200 pounds at the NFL Combine, but Johnson lacks power. Johnson likely isn’t a fit for teams looking for a short-yardage running back. He doesn’t have the contact balance to keep moving after a tackle is attempted on him. Adding strength can help, but it will likely never make him a power back.
Johnson is not the fastest running back. He ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Johnson has decent speed on the field, but is often caught by trailing defenders. He is more of a player who maximizes his short-area quickness and agility than relying on his long speed.
His value on third down comes from his receiving ability, but he can do better in pass protection. Johnson can see where pressure is coming from more quickly. He also can pick it up better by squaring up players who get through.
Projected Draft Range: Third Round Pick-Fifth Round Pick
Draft Grade: Third Round Pick
Make sure to check out our NFL Draft page for more content like Emmett Johnson NFL Draft Profile!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
