The Hall of Fame quarterback, whose No. 15 jersey still hangs retired in Memorial Stadium after leading the Cornhuskers to back-to-back national titles in 1994 and 1995, rarely steps into the spotlight these days. But on Friday evening, with the Huskers licking their wounds from a frustrating 7-5 regular season capped by a Black Friday loss to Iowa, Frazier unleashed a statement that echoed like a thunderclap across Husker Nation.
“What people are doing to this kid is flat-out wrong — a disgrace to what Nebraska football is supposed to stand for,” Frazier said in a statement shared exclusively with Nebraska media outlets. “How can fans turn on him so quickly? This is a young man who’s carried the offense when nobody else could, shows up every day, works harder than anyone, never complains, never points fingers — he just tries to win for Nebraska. To me, Emmett Johnson is one of the toughest, most dedicated backs this program has seen in years — and instead of ripping him apart every time the team hits a rough stretch, people should be lifting him up.”
Frazier’s words, delivered with the same calm intensity that powered his 75-yard touchdown scamper against Florida in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, cut deep into a fanbase that’s grown restless. Nebraska’s 2025 campaign was a tale of two seasons: a promising 5-1 start fueled by Johnson’s breakout performances, followed by a four-loss skid in Big Ten play that included gut-wrenching defeats to Penn State and the Hawkeyes. Through it all, the junior tailback from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, shouldered an outsized load—rushing for a career-high 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns on 278 carries, while adding 370 receiving yards and three more scores. His 217-yard explosion against Iowa on November 28 was a career pinnacle, a 70-yard bolt through the Hawkeye defense serving as a defiant reminder of his explosiveness.
Yet, as the Huskers stumbled—manhandled by Penn State’s front seven and outschemed in the trenches—social media and call-in shows lit up with criticism aimed squarely at Johnson. Fumbles in key moments (he coughed up the ball twice in the Penn State loss), perceived “inefficiency” in short-yardage situations, and whispers of him being “overhyped” became the refrain. It was a sharp turn from the adulation he earned early, when he was hailed as the “ultimate competitor” after a 176-yard clinic against Rutgers in October.
Frazier, now 51 and serving as Assistant Director of Athletic Development in Nebraska’s athletic department, saw echoes of his own era in the fray. “I remember the noise,” he told reporters post-statement. “In ‘94, we lost to Colorado, and the doubters came out. But we didn’t fold—we ran the damn ball harder. Emmett’s doing the same. He’s our Cory Schlesinger out there, grinding for yards no one else wants. This isn’t about stats; it’s about heart. And he’s got more of it than most.”
Head coach Matt Rhule, who met with Johnson on Tuesday to discuss his future, echoed Frazier’s sentiment without naming the legend directly. “I met with Emmett yesterday and reassured him that no matter what he does, we love and respect and support whatever decision he makes,” Rhule said. Johnson, a three-star recruit who’s blossomed into a potential first-round NFL prospect, has until January 2026 to declare for the draft. Whispers of a return swirl, especially with the transfer portal buzzing—Mekhi Frazier, a dynamic back from Michigan State with 520 rushing yards this season, has emerged as a top target to bolster the room if Johnson bolts.
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