The Nebraska football team lost two running backs in one fell swoop and now the Huskers might be looking to an unexpected source for its carries.
With Gabe Ervin and Rahmir Johnson both out for the rest of the year, the Nebraska football team’s running back room is suddenly quite thin. With 9 games left in the season, the Huskers coaches are going to be scrambling to find ways to keep everyone fresh and healthy as they make a push for a bowl season.
With Anthony Grant now taking over the starting spot, that still means the Nebraska football team is going to need to find someone who can give him a rest. So far, the Huskers have gone with a kind of running-back-by-committee approach rather than one workhorse.
On Tuesday, Billy Kemp made it clear that if such a committee continues, he’d be ready to step up. The question is whether or not the coaching staff is really entertaining such an approach.
If Nebraska needs Billy Kemp to run the ball, he said he’s ready. Whatever is needed, Kemp said. pic.twitter.com/VoHqm09Cco
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) September 19, 2023
There’s a couple different reasons why it feels like that would be a worst case scenario. First off, Kemp hasn’t had a carry yet this season. It seems unlikely that the start of conference play would be the best time to start doing something like that.
The Huskers also have capable backups that should get a first look. Emmett Johnson for one, is someone the coaches already trust with kick returns. It doesn’t seem like a stretch that he could step in and do for Grant what Grant was doing for Ervin.
Nebraska football turning to receiver for carries?
On the other hand, Kemp has run the ball before. The Virginia transfer has 10 career carries for 38 yards. The Huskers haven’t completely shied away from a wide receiver carrying the ball this year.
Jaylen Lloyd and Tommi Hill have both carried once this year. As the Nebraska football team looks for ways to replace Ervin and Johnson’s offense, Billy Kemp IV could fit the bill.