What Nebraska is looking for in a starting running back

Nebraska running backs coach EJ Barthel met with the media on Friday afternoon. Barthel spoke on a variety of subjects, including the key characteristics in a running back, what he’s looking for from the running back room, and how to evaluate maturity in the position group.

“I think you’re looking for three characteristics. You’re looking for big play ability. You’re looking for a guy that can pound the football four yards in a cloud of dust. The third part of that would be protection. Whether that’s one person or that’s three different people, that’s kind of what you need in that room for that 1, 2 and 3.”

The Huskers will be looking for increased production from the position in 2024. Last season, Gabe Ervin Jr. (hip) and Rahmir Johnson (shoulder) suffered season-ending injuries during Nebraska’s win against Northern Illinois.

Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg would lead the team in rushing with 477 yards. Anthony Grant would lead the running backs and finish second on the team with 413 yards and three touchdowns.

Emmett Johnson is the leading returning rusher at running back with 411 yards last season. Nebraska has not had a 1,000 yard rusher from the running back position since Devine Ozigbo ran for 1,082 yards in 2018.

“Every team in football nowadays usually has one to two guys. Most average probably have three. That’s kind of where we’re at. We’ll see who that person is. We want to make sure that whoever that is, whether it’s one person or three guys, that all those elements are covered.”

On where he wants the room

“My objective right now as the running back coach is to make sure we have three guys that can go win the game for us, and I think that’s exactly what we’re doing right now,” We’re going to have three to four guys that can go play and win the game for us. That’s where we need to be. Let me rephrase that — guys that we can win the game with. I think that’s what we’ve got right now, that’s what we’re working towards

On pushing the entire room

We’re really trying to push the tail end of the room with Kwinten (Ives) and Dante (Dowdell) and really raise those guys. They’ve answered, Dante especially, he’s really shown a lot of positive things in camp so far. I think it’s about getting to game six and what does that room look like and right now making sure the first half of the season, we have a solid 1, 2 and 3.”

On the maturity of the running back room

“I was fortunate enough to be assistant running back coach in Carolina (Panthers) and I got a chance to work with (Christian) McCaffrey and coach McCaffrey a lot,” he said. “The maturity of the group, especially the guys that have been with me, we’re at the point now where I think last year as a staff and as an offense we were trying to establish how we run the ball. Our DNA of running the ball. They had to learn that last year.

On setting a standard

I think the maturity we’ve kind of shifted gears, they know the standard of how we run the ball. They understand the run schemes. They understand where their eyes need to be. Now it’s about the details and focusing and harping on these second-level reads, making guys miss in open space, how do we cut properly? Your first year you have to get the base down. This year you can tell by Emmett (Johnson) and Rahmir (Johnson) at practice how they’re focusing on making guys miss at the second level.”

Matt Rhule to meet with the media

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will continue practice on Saturday. Head coach Matt Rhule will meet with the media as well.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Nebraska is looking for in a starting running back