Nebraska’s best running backs
Mike Rozier has the most rushing yards in Nebraska history, 4,780 from 1981 to 1983. Since 2004, Ameer Abdullah has the most, 4,588 in 53 games.
Of the Big Ten’s best running backs since 2004, Ameer Abdullah is 7th.
Nebraska’s running backs this season
- Jamal Rule7 games, 66.1 a game463rushing yards
- Mekhi Nelson8 games, 41.6 a game482 at Nebraska.333rushing yards
- Isaiah Mozee8 games, 28.6 a game344 at Nebraska.229rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09
rushing yards in Nebraska history
- 1Mike Rozier1981 – 19834,780
- 2Ameer Abdullah2011 – 20144,588
- 3Ahman Green1995 – 19973,880
- 4Eric Crouch1998 – 20013,434
- 5Roy Helu2007 – 20103,404
- 6Rex Burkhead2009 – 20123,329
- 7Calvin Jones1991 – 19933,153
- 8Ken Clark1987 – 19893,037
- 9Taylor Martinez2010 – 20132,975
- 10I. M. Hipp1977 – 19792,814
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), through the 2025 season, which counts bowl games from 2002.
Compare with in · side by side
Every running back since 2004
| Place | Player | rushing yards | rushing touchdowns | yards from scrimmage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ameer Abdullah2011 – 2014 · 53 games | 4,588 | 39 | 5,278 |
| 2 | Roy Helu Jr.2007 – 2010 · 48 games | 3,404 | 28 | 3,905 |
| 3 | Rex Burkhead2009 – 2012 · 44 games | 3,332 | 30 | 3,839 |
| 4 | Emmett Johnson2023 – 2025 · 34 games | 2,460 | 15 | 3,162 |
| 5 | Marlon Lucky2005 – 2008 · 48 games | 2,393 | 22 | 3,772 |
| 6 | Terrell Newby2013 – 2016 · 48 games | 2,239 | 20 | 2,593 |
| 7 | Devine Ozigbo2015 – 2018 · 39 games | 2,196 | 21 | 2,684 |
| 8 | Cory Ross2004 – 2005 · 23 games | 1,984 | 11 | 2,638 |
| 9 | Imani Cross2012 – 2015 · 45 games | 1,606 | 28 | 1,629 |
| 10 | Brandon Jackson2004 – 2006 · 30 games | 1,431 | 14 | 1,749 |
| 11 | Anthony Grant2022 – 2023 · 23 games | 1,328 | 9 | 1,445 |
| 12 | Dedrick Mills2019 – 2020 · 18 games | 1,141 | 13 | 1,349 |
| 13 | Rahmir Johnson2019 – 2024 · 35 games | 999 | 7 | 1,436 |
| 14 | Quentin Castille2007 – 2008 · 23 games | 810 | 10 | 952 |
| 15 | Maurice Washington2018 – 2019 · 18 games | 753 | 4 | 1,136 |
| 16 | Dante Dowdell2024 · 12 games | 614 | 12 | 635 |
| 17 | Cody Glenn2005 – 2007 · 20 games | 579 | 14 | 631 |
| 18 | Mikale Wilbon2015 – 2018 · 24 games | 510 | 6 | 652 |
| 19 | Mekhi Nelson2024 – 2026 · still playing | 482 | 6 | 737 |
| +333 this season | ||||
| 20 | Tre Bryant2016 – 2017 · 14 games | 471 | 3 | 527 |
| 21 | Jamal Rule2026 · still playing | 463 | 5 | 545 |
| +463 this season | ||||
| 22 | Braylon Heard2011 – 2012 · 17 games | 462 | 4 | 481 |
| 23 | Gabe Ervin Jr.2021 – 2024 · 20 games | 455 | 5 | 489 |
| 24 | Jaquez Yant2021 – 2022 · 12 games | 350 | 3 | 355 |
| 25 | Isaiah Mozee2025 – 2026 · still playing | 344 | 1 | 585 |
| +229 this season | ||||
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- Emmett Johnson2023 – 2025 · 34 games2,460
- Anthony Grant2022 – 2023 · 23 games1,328
- Rahmir Johnson2020 – 2024 · 33 games935
- Dante Dowdell2024 · 12 games614
- › Mekhi Nelson2024 – 2026 · 19 games482
2010s
- Ameer Abdullah2011 – 2014 · 53 games4,588
- Rex Burkhead2010 – 2012 · 35 games2,983
- Terrell Newby2013 – 2016 · 48 games2,239
- Devine Ozigbo2015 – 2018 · 39 games2,196
- Imani Cross2012 – 2015 · 45 games1,606
2004–09
- Marlon Lucky2005 – 2008 · 48 games2,393
- Roy Helu Jr.2007 – 2009 · 34 games2,159
- Cory Ross2004 – 2005 · 23 games1,984
- Brandon Jackson2004 – 2006 · 30 games1,431
- Quentin Castille2007 – 2008 · 23 games810
Also at Nebraska: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · Nebraska record book
Method
- Every running back who played at Nebraska since 2004, ranked by rushing yards over his games there. Bowl and playoff games count.
- The numbers here start in 2004, so a running back who played at Nebraska before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards at Nebraska in its seasons.
- The record book's numbers are the school's own. Where they and the box scores differ for one player, the box scores are missing a game or count bowls another way.
- A running back still playing at Nebraska is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.