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Red Report: Rahmir Johnson ‘ready to go’; Purdue ‘much improved’ defensively; former NU WR Spielman retires | Football








Nebraska running back Rahmir Johnson rushes between Minnesota’s Jordan Howden (left) and Tyler Nubin as Esezi Otomewo (right) trails the play in the first quarter Saturday, Oct. 16 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.



FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR




Beginning with Erik Chinander speaking publicly for the first time since his father’s death, here’s the latest Four Downs from Memorial Stadium.







Nebraska should have its top running back in the mix when it hosts Purdue on Saturday.

Redshirt freshman Rahmir Johnson, who left the Huskers’ loss at Minnesota on Oct. 16 with an apparent head injury, has bounced back well, according to running backs coach Ryan Held.

“Really good. He had to go through a protocol and he’s back and ready to go,” Held said Tuesday. “He was out there today at practice and had a good day.”

The Huskers are last in the Big Ten in sacks per game. Saturday feels like a chance to change that, considering Purdue’s pass-heavy scheme.

Johnson, a 5-foot-10, 185-pounder, was putting together the best rushing performance of his career against the Gophers when he took a vicious shot near the goal line and exited the game. At that point, he had 83 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.

Even despite the early exit against the Gophers, Johnson is averaging 103.4 offensive yards per game in the five contests since he took over as Nebraska’s top back. He’s got 342 rushing yards and 175 receiving yards in that stretch and five total touchdowns.

Boilermakers stout defensively: Even during a year in which defense has largely ruled the Big Ten and college football, Purdue still has to be one of the most improved outfits in the country.

In 2020, the Boilermakers finished No. 56 in total defense (399 yards allowed per game) and No. 62 in scoring defense (29.8 points allowed per game). In 2019, Purdue was No. 100 in total defense and No. 86 in scoring defense).



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