Nebraska plans to fly all 110 of its training camp participants to Ireland. Since it's a Big Ten game, some of those players won't suit up. That means hard choices for playing time - none tougher than the one Scott Frost and Bryan Applewhite face with NU 's running backs. But it's a good problem to have for a program that has struggled to keep backs healthy and productive since Frost's arrival. Through three weeks of camp, Frost said he's thrilled with their progress. "Our running back room has really ma de a giant leap," Frost said Saturday. "It's going to be tough to separate yourself from that group with the guys that we have in that room." Returning backs Rahmir Johnson, Gabe Ervin and Jaquez Yant are better than they were, Frost said, and they've be en pushed by new additions Anthony Grant, Ajay Allen and Emmett Johnson. "The competition has spurred them to play harder," Frost said. Applewhite, the Husker running backs coach "demands a lot" of them, too. "He's coaching them hard," Frost said. "And h e's getting a lot out of them."Asked specifically about the 6-foot, 215-pound Ervin, Frost said the redshirt freshman from Buford, Georgia, is better than he was in 2021, when as a true freshman he started several games before tearing his ACL in t he loss at Oklahoma. Ervin sat out Saturday, Frost said, because his knee was "flaring up a little." "He looks, bigger, faster," Frost said. "Hitting holes really hard." Johnson, Frost said, has done a "great job" of developing his skill set after the 5- foot-10, 185-pounder had 690 rushing and receiving yards last season. Johnson, better in an open space than the phone booth of the tackle box, has also been working as a slot receiver. - Lincoln Journal Star
(DS#999 RB) rSr/2026  RB Gabe Ervin Jr., Kansas State
News Source: Lincoln Journal Star
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