Scott Frost discusses Nebraska running back competition, calls battle 'day-to-day'

With less than a month until the 2022 college football season kicks off, the running back battle is still ongoing at Nebraska. Following a recent fall practice session, Cornhuskers coach Scott Frost provided an update on where things stand, saying he expects the competition to continue until the end of camp.

“I’ve been really pleased with a lot of guys in the running back room,” Frost said. “It’s close. It’s kind of day-to-day right now. One guy has a great day and then the next guy has a great day. I haven’t seen really any bad days from anybody and we have a lot of capable bodies, so I imagine that fight will keep on going until the end of camp.”

There are a total of six scholarship players vying to become the starting running back at Nebraska in 2022. Three of them are new to the team in JUCO transfer Anthony Grant and true freshmen Ajay Allen and Emmett Johnson. The other three — Rahmir Johnson, Jaquez Yant and Gabe Ervin — have each been with the team at least one season.

Rahmir Johnson is the team’s leading returning rusher after totaling 495 yards and four touchdowns this past season. Yant also rushed for 294 yards and a touchdown despite playing in just six games. Ervin, a true freshman in 2021, is coming off of an ACL tear that caused him to miss all but four games.

Grant is also an intriguing option. A former four-star recruit in the 2018 class who originally committed to Florida State, he spent two seasons in Tallahassee before transferring to New Mexico Military Institute. There he helped the football team win the 2021 NJCAA Division I National Championship while also being named the Player of the Year. He rushed for 1,730 yards and 18 touchdowns, leading all junior college players in both categories.

Cornhuskers running backs coach Bryan Applewhite even told the Omaha World-Herald last week that he would have no issue naming a true freshman as starter.

Whoever ultimately wins the Nebraska running back battle will be tasked with helping deliver the first winning season since 2016. With Frost set to enter his fifth year at the helm, this season is a pivotal one for his future at the program. With that being the case, it makes sense why he isn’t taking this running back competition lightly.

The Cornhuskers have a little more than two weeks to figure out their running back situation, as they are set to kick off the season on Aug. 27 against Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland.