The Heisman buzz for Nebraska's Emmett Johnson is starting to get loud

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson is having the season of a lifetime, even as the Cornhuskers work to find their footing without starting quarterback Dylan Raiola next to him in the backfield.

With 1,131 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, 300 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns, Johnson has blown past his previous season-highs and is making a name for himself in the Nebraska history books.

Now, after his impressive performance in the Cornhuskers' win over the UCLA Bruins, Johnson is starting to gain even more national attention and has finally become a part of the Heisman Trophy conversation.

Could Emmett Johnson win the Heisman Trophy?

While the odds put out by Vegas don't have Johnson anywhere near the top of the Heisman standings, the fan vote released by the Heisman Trophy itself has him right at the front.

Following Week 12, Johnson found himself in second place for the Heisman Fan Vote Leaderboard, only trailing Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and well ahead of Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King or Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed.

On the national leaderboard, Johnson ranks fifth in total rushing yards (1,131), trailing Missouri's Ahmad Hardy, Jacksonville State's Cam Cook, Ole Miss's Kewan Lacy, and Notre Dame's Jaramiyah Love. He ranks 19th in rushing touchdowns (11) and fifth in total carries so far this season (203).

With just two games remaining in the year, including one against a failing Penn State Nittany Lions team and one against a top-25 Iowa State Hawkeyes squad, Johnson has a real opportunity to prove that he is deserving of the award.

The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the best overall player in college football every year, and ordinarily goes to a quarterback. However, this season, with players like Johnson and Love showing off their talents, the running backs aren't entirely out of the conversation.