The new guy

Experience leads the way at running backs for the Huskers

Looking at Nebraska’s offense heading into 2020, one of the most stable positions for the Huskers looks to be their running backs.

Yes, the Huskers did end up losing highly touted prospect from a few years back Maurice Washington after he was removed from the team in early 2020 due to his legal troubles but return the teams leading rusher from a season ago Dedrick Mills.

The 220 pound bruising back gained 745 yards on the ground on 143 attempts in his first year at Nebraska. Before becoming a Husker, Mills had experience at the FBS level leading Georgia Tech in rushing as a freshman in 2016 with 771 rushing yards. From there, he transferred to Garden City Community College where he had 1,358 yards and 19 touchdowns in ten games during the 2018 season.

Mills is a bigger back at 220 pounds which makes him even harder to take down at initial contact. Look for him to be used more on power type runs up the middle.

The running back who may benefit the most from Washington’s dismissal from the program is a sophomore out of Omaha Brody Belt, redshirt freshman Rahmir Johnson, and sophomore Wan’Dale Robison.

Belt had 36 yards on five attempts in 2020, Johnson had 65 yards on 21 attempts, and Robinson had 375 yards on 88 rushing attempts. On paper, it looks as if Robinson should get the first crack at being interrogated into the Husker rushing attack.

The only issue is, he is also the leading receiver back for Nebraska in 2020 as well after JD Spielman left the program earlier this year. Right now, he is listed on the Huskers roster as a receiver.

I believe Robinson could be an interesting fit for Nebraska at the running back position. He already proved in 2020 he can do serious damage on the ground with limited carries. Plus, his experience as a receiver would make him a perfect receiving back as well.

He could help make a lethal one-two punch for the Huskers in the backfield with Mills taking the up the gut carries and Robinson handling the runs to the outside.

If Nebraska were to keep Robinson primarily at receiver due to the departure of Spielman, then I look for possibly Brody Belt to get more carries.

He has experience as one of Nebraska’s primary kickoff returners during the 2019 season. He also rushed for 1,567 yards as a senior at Millard West in 2017. Just going off the experience factor, you could see him carry the ball more in 2020.

The key for Nebraska this year is using our running game on a more consistent basis. As you probably know from my other columns, I believe Nebraska needs to move back to a more ground heavy game.

I think one of the things that frustrated me the most about the Huskers from a season ago, is how willing they were to move away from the run game. It happened time and time again throughout the season, but one specific example I remember was against Iowa in the final game at home down 24-10.

We were struggling on offense and we finally started moving the ball. Adrian Martinez had a six-yard run and Mills broke free over the left end for ten yards.

Then all of a sudden we went away from what was working and started throwing the ball. The ensuing plays were a completion for no gain to Jack Stoll and a false start. It seems as if the momentum the Huskers had was derailed as we went back to the passing game.

I think Nebraska could benefit from a more persistent approach on the ground.

With so many question marks at the receiver position, its my belief that Mills and Robinson are in line for big seasons for the Huskers. If Nebraska plays there cards right they could have a scary rushing attack between our quarterbacks and running backs this year.