Matt Rhule’s Running Back Overhaul: Can Nebraska’s Offense Rise Again?
Nebraska football finds itself at a turning point. After a frustrating 7-6 finish to the 2024 season—far below the program’s storied standards—head coach Matt Rhule is looking to hit the ‘RESET’ button. And at the heart of this much-needed revamp? The Huskers’ struggling running back room.
Despite flashes of promise, the team’s ground game lacked explosiveness, exposing glaring weaknesses that offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen simply couldn’t patch up. Now, as Nebraska shakes up its rankings, an ex-Husker running back steps in with some game-changing advice. Enter Roy Helu, a former Nebraska standout, with words of wisdom that could reshape the Huskers’ backfield.
Roy Helu’s Hard-Hitting Advice for Nebraska’s Rushing Woes
Once upon a time, Nebraska’s rushing attack was a force to be reckoned with. As analyst Adam Carriker pointed out on his Carriker Chronicles podcast, “Two years ago, Nebraska was number two in the Big Ten in rushing offense.” Fast forward to 2024, and that ranking has nosedived. The Huskers found themselves languishing around the 90th percentile in rushing yards per game, averaging just 130.6—good for a dismal 186th place nationally. Their struggles hit rock bottom in a heartbreaking 28-20 loss to USC, further exposing the backfield’s inability to capitalize on open lanes.
Holgorsen, known for his high-octane offensive mind, wanted more from his running backs, but they simply couldn’t deliver. The problem? A lack of patience and discipline in reading the defense. So when Carriker asked Roy Helu the million-dollar question—“What advice would you give Nebraska’s running backs to hit the holes more effectively?”—Helu’s answer was simple yet profound.
Slow. Down.
Helu, who played for Nebraska from 2007 to 2010 before heading to the NFL, urged the Huskers’ backs to study none other than Le’Veon Bell. The former Pittsburgh Steelers star, known for his legendary patience and vision, rushed for over 3,300 yards and 33 touchdowns in just 40 career games. His secret? He mastered the art of waiting for the perfect moment before exploding through a gap.
“When you run a wide-zone scheme, you’re going to feel like you have to rush,” Helu explained. “Everything’s moving—linemen are pulling, gaps are shifting—and it tricks your brain into thinking you need to speed up.” But the real trick? Doing the exact opposite.
Instead of rushing headfirst into clogged lanes, Helu advised Nebraska’s backs to embrace patience. “Slow down your footwork. It’s better to be criticized for being too slow than for being out of control and missing the right gap.” Once a crease opens, the back must strike with speed and power—but only after they’ve fully read the field.
With this golden advice in their arsenal, Nebraska’s running backs have no excuses. But will they put it into practice? Only time will tell.
Nebraska’s Backfield Transformation: A New Era Begins
While the Huskers are still digesting Helu’s wisdom, the team’s running back room is already undergoing dramatic changes. The winter transfer portal window delivered a gut punch when Dante Dowdell, one of Nebraska’s key contributors, shocked the program by transferring to Kentucky.
Dowdell, who racked up over 600 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, was initially set to return despite being bumped down the depth chart in favor of Emmett Johnson. But when Kentucky came knocking with a hefty NIL deal, the talented back couldn’t resist the offer.
His departure shifts the spotlight onto rising star Conor Booth. Standing at 6 feet and 210 pounds, Booth has been on Nebraska’s radar since receiving an offer in June 2023. And for good reason—his high school stats are jaw-dropping. Booth rushed for 2,159 yards and an astonishing 31 touchdowns, surpassing the 100-yard mark in every single game. The Huskers are betting big on his potential.
But Booth isn’t the only new name in the mix. Enter Jamarion Parker, a dynamic 5’11”, 175-pound speedster who has officially signed with Nebraska. Parker’s breakout moment came as a freshman when he rushed for 243 yards and four touchdowns. By his junior year, he had torched defenses for 1,644 yards and 22 touchdowns—on just 147 carries. If he can carry that level of production into Lincoln, Nebraska’s backfield might just be back in business.
Now, the real question remains—can Matt Rhule and Dana Holgorsen instill Helu’s philosophy into their young playmakers? If they can, Nebraska’s offense could go from stagnant to explosive in 2025. But if they ignore the advice? Well, expect another season of frustration.
Either way, the Huskers’ running back room is in for a wild ride. Stay tuned—because this story is just getting started.
