When the Nebraska football team goes through its Senior Day festivities on Saturday morning, there will be two Husker stars not taking part. Running back Emmett Johnson and defensive back Malcolm Hartzog are eligible to walk as academic seniors, but neither will be honored.
The question now is what sitting out the Senior Day celebration could mean for the Cornhuskers. Though the question is all but answered when it comes to Hartzog.
The defensive back was the hero for the Nebraska defense in the season's opening win over Cincinnati. Still, he's been injured for the most part since and is expected to return for one more season as a leader of the Blackshirts in 2026.
Why Emmett Johnson’s Senior Day choice carries real implications for Nebraska football
Emmett Johnson is a much bigger question. The running back has exploded on the scene this year. Still, as he's only a junior per NCAA eligibility rules, there's an argument to be made that he could benefit from another year showing 2025 wasn't a fluke.
There are at least a few people who aren't quite convinced Johnson has proven he's a top-level NFL-degree player. He was left off the Doak Walker Award finalists list despite currently leading the country in total yards.
If there's one area of his game that EJ could improve, it would be his blocking. He's had problems this year, picking up the blitz every now and then. That's certainly something that could hold him back in the NFL, especially since his skills lend themselves especially to a third-down back otherwise.
If he does want to be the guy who plays in passing downs, he'll definitely need to show he can pick up the blitz better than he has.
For now, the most popular opinion is that Emmett Johnson will leave the Nebraska football program for the NFL this spring. But by not having him walk with the seniors on Saturday morning, the door is at least open for his 2026 return.