Nebraska’s running back room is heading into the season without a clear-cut No. 1, and that’s either a sign of depth or a problem waiting to surface.
Running backs coach EJ Barthel made that much plain Tuesday afternoon when he spoke with reporters. The Huskers had already taken care of the quarterback spot by officially naming Anthony Colandrea the starter last week, but the backfield picture remains unsettled. Isaiah Mozee, Mekhi Nelson and Jamal Rule are still in the mix, and Barthel stopped well short of declaring any of them “the man.”
Instead, Nebraska appears headed toward a committee approach, with the staff leaning on whichever back has the hot hand or fits the situation best.
“As far as I’m concerned, we have multiple starters,” Barthel said. “We have guys that can go be the guy.
Different skill sets in the room. But the top of the room, I feel really comfortable with multiple guys starting right now.”
That setup may end up being the plan even if someone does separate from the pack. A few backs outside the main RB1 race could still handle short-yardage and goal-line work.
Mozee, Nelson and Rule have been the names to watch since spring practice began, but Nelson’s showing in Nebraska’s bowl game against Utah appeared to move him into the front of the line. Mozee and Rule have since done enough to keep this a genuine three-way battle.
Rule, in particular, could still carve out a role this fall even if he doesn’t win the featured job. Barthel said Rule, Kwinten Ives and Vincent Genatone are competing for the short-yardage and goal-line carries.
For a fan base that just watched Emmett Johnson pile up 1,800 total yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025, the desire for a clear lead back is easy to understand. There’s a natural urge to know who will grab the job before the Ohio game on September 5.
Barthel, though, sees this group as stronger than the one that had to lean so heavily on Johnson. “Like I said in the spring, this is the most talented room I’ve had,” Barthel said.
“So they push each other each and every single day, and I think keeping them together is my biggest challenge because there’s only one guy that’s really going to be out there getting the ball. So the competition part of it has been paramount…”
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