Johnson Named To Doak Walker Award Watch List
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson was on the initial list of candidates for the 2025 Doak Walker Award announced Tuesday. The award is presented to the nation’s most outstanding college running back.
Johnson comes off a sophomore season where he played in all 13 games, including five starts, and led the Huskers with 908 all-purpose yards. His 39 catches were the most by a Husker running back since 2007.
He flourished following the hiring of Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator in November, averaging 78.5 rushing yards per game over NU’s final four contests while also averaging 5.8 receptions in that span. Johnson rushed for a career-high 113 yards against Wisconsin while catching six passes for a career-high 85 yards in the bowl-clinching win over the Badgers. Three of his four highest rushing totals of the year came in NU’s last three games, as he rushed for 71 yards on nearly four yards per per carry against a Hawkeye defense which was fourth nationally against the run and had 75 yards on 15 carries in NU’s bowl win over Boston College.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2025 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12, 2024.