Nebraska Football: John Bivens much more than an average walk-on
Nebraska football picked up a diamond in the rough on Monday.
In what has been a position of strength for the program, another running back is set to join Nebraska football. John Bivens, who played for Archbishop Alter High School in Ohio has committed to walk-on to the program.
He is coming off an injury from the 2019 season, but there is little doubt that he is an explosive running back. He ran for 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns in his junior year. He also proved to be somewhat of a minor asset as a receiver out of the backfield. He caught three passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in 2019
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According to his Hudl profile, he measures in at six-foot-one, 205 pounds.
What could he bring to the Nebraska football program? When I watch his highlights, he brings the unique combination of strength and speed. He reminds me a little bit of Dedrick Mills and away. He finds his hole, he makes his read, and then he turns on the jets once he gets past the defense. He is particularly effective on sweeps and plays that have him bounce to the outside. His running style would suit Big Ten football. His physicality would make it tough for defenders to bring him down.
I could legitimately see him getting some playing time in Lincoln. He definitely has the talent to make an impact. Nebraska uses their running backs heavily, and I could see Bivens used in certain situations where Mills or others may need some rest or need a breather. He definitely has the talent to compete in big-time football, and I’m kind of surprised that he slipped under the radar a little bit.
We have seen how successful the walk-on program has been for Nebraska football. It seems like they are able to secure walk-ins year after year. Of course, the trick for these players is to get some playing time. However, it should at least be noted that Scott Frost and his coaching staff are not afraid to take chances on these guys.
Bivens should be able to make an impact for Nebraska football, and I’ll be interested to see how the program uses him. They certainly use their running backs in a variety of ways, and it seems like Bivens will not be an exception to this. He is a great get for Nebraska at a time when they have desperately needed to add some more bodies to the roster.