Nebraska Football: Rahmir Johnson again cast as Weapon X

The new Nebraska football coaches are saying many of the same things Scott Frost and company did about how they want to use Rahmir Johnson.

The question is whether or not this Nebraska football staff is going to follow through on their promises more than Scott Frost, Mark Whipple, and company did in 2022. What is clear is that more than one coaching staff has now seen the potential of Rahmir to the point where they’ve specifically come up with a plan to get him into the game, even if he’s not the starting running back.

Following Tuesday’s spring practice session, running backs coach E.J. Barthel addressed the media about his plans for the fall and the position group he’s overseeing. Among the biggest tidbits was that Rahmir is going to be once again looked at as a kind of Weapon X for the Nebraska football team.

Barthel first praised the New Jersey product’s toughness, especially because he’s not a particularly big or thick running back. The coach then said that the staff “plans to put the ball in his hands in multiple positions.”

Nebraska football feels it has weapon in Rahmir Johnson

Barthel stopped short of talking exactly the way Whipple did about Rahmir Johnson last year. Whipple made a lot of comments about how the they made a special position for him. However, after talking about that special position, it didn’t appear that the coaching staff could agree on when to use him.

Injuries certainly contributed to Rahmir’s lack of playing time in 2022 to some extent, but there were also times when the running back was even forced to turn to social media to express his frustration over his lack of touches.

It wasn’t until the Purdue game that the back got a carry and it wasn’t until Iowa that he got consistent playing time. Against the Hawkeyes, he carried 12 times for 52 yards.

Just how Nebraska football plans on using Rahmir Johnson is going to be something to watch closely in 2023.