Imagine a college football player so dominant that he not only leads the nation in scrimmage yards but also becomes the first in his school's history to achieve a rare rushing and receiving milestone in a single game. That's Emmett Johnson, the University of Nebraska running back who's making waves this season. On Tuesday, Johnson was named one of 13 semifinalists for the prestigious Maxwell Award, an honor presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the Collegiate Player of the Year. But here's where it gets even more impressive: Johnson is one of only two running backs on the list, alongside Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame, and he's aiming to become Nebraska's second Maxwell Award winner, following in the footsteps of Mike Rozier (1983).
Johnson's stats are nothing short of remarkable. Heading into Nebraska's November 22 game against Penn State, he ranks second nationally in rushing yards with 1,131 and leads the nation with 1,431 scrimmage yards. This season, he's racked up 11 rushing touchdowns and added three more through the air, catching 36 passes for 300 yards. Speaking of receptions, his 36 catches rank second among all running backs nationally, and his 14 total touchdowns place him fourth among FBS players. Johnson has delivered six 100-yard rushing games this year, including three consecutive performances. And this is the part most people miss: in Nebraska's November 8 victory over UCLA, he became the first Husker ever to record 100 yards both rushing (129) and receiving (103) in the same game. His stellar play has propelled Nebraska to a 7-3 record, their best regular-season win total since 2016.
But here's where it gets controversial: With six Big Ten players among the 13 semifinalists, including Johnson, some are questioning whether the conference is overrepresented. Joining Johnson are Makai Lemon (USC), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Dante Moore (Oregon), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), and Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State). Is this a testament to the Big Ten's strength, or is there a bias in the selection process? We'll let you decide.
Johnson's accolades don't stop there. He was also named the Maxwell Club National Player of the Week for his performance against UCLA, where he accounted for 232 scrimmage yards in Nebraska's 28-21 win. His 28 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown, coupled with three catches for a career-high 103 yards (including touchdowns of 56 and 40 yards), solidified his status as a game-changer. He was additionally honored as the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
The winners of the 89th Maxwell Award and the 31st Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, broadcast live on ESPN. As Johnson continues to dominate, one can't help but wonder: Is he the next big name in college football? And more importantly, does he deserve the Maxwell Award? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a debate you won't want to miss!
