Three can be better than one. Unless, of course, the one is Emmett Johnson for Nebraska football.
His departure for the Kansas City Chiefs left questions about his replacement for Nebraska this season. Based on the play in the Huskers’ 49-21 victory against Ohio Saturday, it might be a trio: freshman Jamal Rule and sophomores Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee.
Rule is listed first here because he was the game’s leading rusher, with 122 yards and two touchdowns and two catches for 47 yards and another touchdown.
The last time a freshman rushed for 100 or more yards in an opener was 2018 against Colorado; quarterback Adrian Martinez rushed for 117 yards. The last time a freshman running back did it was 2004, when Tierre Green rushed for 112 yards against Western Illinois.
Rule said he “expected myself to have a pretty good game.” But not to such a degree.
Nelson carried 10 times for 64 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 54 yards, 51 of them for an early fourth-quarter touchdown. Mozee carried only six times for 31 yards. But he was the starter and impacted the game as well. “They all made explosive plays,” said Coach Matt Rhule.
Nelson ran 29 yards for his touchdown, and Rule had a 39-yard run. Mozee had a 24-yard run. And, oh yes, quarterback Anthony Colandrea ran 13 yards for a touchdown.
Colandrea completed 18-of-32 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. The third was to Kwazi Gilmer, 9 yards on third down with only 1:53 remaining in the game.
Why run such a play with a 42-21 lead?
The Huskers need to continue working on executing in the red zone, Rhule said.
By that point, even a running play might have produced a touchdown. After managing only 65 yards rushing in the first half, Nebraska ran for 183 in the second to finish with 523 yards of offense.
Freshman Jamal Rule runs the ball up the field against Ohio in Nebraska football’s season opener. Photo by John S. Peterson.
The Huskers rushed for 204 yards on their last 21 carries.
Credit the offensive line, not just the running backs, Rule said.
Nebraska led only 14-13 at halftime, but didn’t make adjustments during the break, according to Rhule. “We just quit shooting ourselves in the foot,” he said.
Seven of the Huskers’ nine penalties came in the first half, including a blindside block that nullified a 57-yard Colandrea touchdown pass to Nyziah Hunter. Jacory Barney Jr. was flagged for the block, which appeared questionable. Hunter was already well past Barney and the Ohio defender.
Anyway, this is about the running backs.
Even though this is Rule’s first season in college — he was recruited out of Charlotte Christian in North Carolina — “Jamal’s not your average true freshman,” Nelson said.
His pre-game passion in the locker room was such that Nelson told him to save it for the game.
Rule’s explanation of the Huskers’ second-half play? Nebraska kept pounding and wore down the Bobcat defense. “We just like to say we’re giving them body blows,” he said.
Rule teared up when he went onto the field and saw the Husker fans, consecutive sellout 411, officially 85,577 — many of whom didn’t stay to the end because of the intense heat. The temperature at game time was 91 degrees. But the heat index reached 105 during the game.
The heat wasn’t as bad as it was during Tuesday’s practice, though, according to Rule.
Nelson admitted to having some tears before the game, too. In June an off-the-field issue in Florida called into question whether he’d be able to play. But the issue was resolved, with no repercussions. As a result, he was “blessed,” he said, acknowledging he also teared up beforehand.
For the time being, at least, Nebraska has a running back trio.
Saturday “was not the Big Ten,” Rhule said. “But I like the backs.”
Colandrea could be included. “I think Anthony’s a baller,” said Rhule.
