Emmett Johnson appears to be missing home! The 22-year-old grew up in Minneapolis, went to the Academy of Holy Angels in nearby Richfield, and lived close to U.S. Bank Stadium. He won Minnesota’s Mr. Football award in 2021 and was a hometown hero, but still, the Gophers never gave him a college offer since they didn’t need an RB in his class. So he joined Matt Rhule’s Nebraska instead. Now that he’s NFL-bound, a positive meeting with his hometown team has Johnson dreaming of a storybook ending to his journey to the pros.

“Hey, man, it would mean a lot,” Emmett Johnson told NBC. “I grew up in the inner city. I lived about ten-fifteen minutes from U.S. Bank Stadium. I had a great formal meeting with them and O’Connell. I would love to go back home.”

You can hear the eagerness in his voice. Johnson is one of the best RBs in the 2026 NFL Draft, coming off a dominant season with Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers. He ran for 1,451 yards with 12 TDs and also caught for 370 yards and three TDs. The positive formal meeting with Minnesota at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis is a good sign of mutual interest. 

Matt Rhule’s offense at Nebraska demanded a lot from its backfield. That was when Johnson stepped up and delivered, evolving from an overlooked recruit into a three-down workhorse under Rhule’s physical, ground-and-pound system. In fact, the Cornhuskers’ HC routinely showered Emmett Johnson with praise for his pass-blocking and vision, traits that Kevin O’Connell looks for.

With the $6.25 billion worth Vikings staring at offensive questions heading into 2026, this may be a good time to lock in the former Husker. Aaron Jones is due to carry a $14.5 million cap hit in 2026, while C.J. Ham and Adam Thielen have already retired.

For the Vikings, it seems like pairing Emmett Johnson with Aaron Jones could potentially create an ideal succession plan. With Jones carrying a heavy cap hit and entering the twilight stages of his career, Johnson ticks the box for the team’s need for a young back to eventually shoulder the load. The Minneapolis native has a chance to learn from one of the best, develop his game, and provide the Vikings with a long-term solution.

Emmett Johnson is a great choice for Kevin O’Connell, who could bring back the hometown hero. Coming in as the No. 3 RB behind Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, he’s viewed as a potential second or third-round pick. His loyalty to Minnesota is evident when he confessed he even designed his game after Vikings’ star Adrian Peterson.

“I grew up a Vikings fan,” he said. “Just how downhill he was. I feel like if you watch my tape, I finish a lot of my runs moving forward. I feel like the violent part came from AP.”

Emmett Johnson could offer offensive balance to Kevin O’Connell. There’s both potential and the hometown pull, but as far as skills go, his NFL combine didn’t go as planned. 

Matt Rhule’s running back’s NFL Combine results raise eyebrows

The NFL Combine gave Emmett Johnson a chance to boost his stock, but unlike his dominant 2025 season, he delivered a middle-of-the-pack showing. His biggest hit came in the 40-yard dash when he clocked a 4.6 on his first attempt. He later improved to 4.56 on his second, but he still finished last that day among the 10 RBs working out.

For the 10-yard split, the 5’11, 200-pound RB went toe-to-toe with Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne, tying for fourth place with 1.59 seconds. He also posted a 35.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot broad jump. Now, it remains to be seen if Minnesota will prioritize RB in the middle rounds or if they pass on a player who grew up ten minutes from their stadium and openly said he wants to come home. 

Top Stories

Dale Jr’s NASCAR Driver Gets Real on Hendrick Motorsports Fuelled Cup Opportunities Ahead of Darlington Showdown

Insider Exposes NASCAR’s Double Standard as Daniel Dye’s Suspension Gets Compared to Hailie Deegan’s 5-YO Controversy

Bulls Legend Dennis Rodman to Receive WWE Hall of Fame Honor Years After Big Sacrifice

Controversy Arises as Golf Pro Suspended for Cheating Is Cleared to Play $2.55M Tour Event

Dawn Staley Sends Clear Verdict As WNBA Announces ‘Historic’ 7-Year CBA Deal

Noah Lyles’ Training Partner Wins Gold to Continue USA’s World Indoors Legacy

Emmett Johnson’s entry into the NFL combine was centered around him being a quality backup with the potential to start, and that likely hasn’t changed despite his performance. He still has Nebraska’s Pro Day to remind his doubters why he earned All-America honors in the first place.