We’re inching closer to the start of fall camp and taking a last look at each position group before things get rolling in the next few weeks. Next up is the running back spot, where Nebraska will need to replace 1,000-yard rusher Devine Ozigbo.

OVERVIEW

This time last season, the bulk of the attention at running back was focused on junior college transfer Greg Bell. After 12 games, Bell had decided to transfer, and Ozigbo became Nebraska’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Ameer Abdullah in 2014. Now, Nebraska gets to work trying to find a replacement for Ozigbo with a number of younger players and newcomers.

Sophomore Maurice Washington is the only returning running back who topped the 100-yard mark last season, checking in with 77 carries for 455 yards and three touchdowns to rank third on the team in rushing. Washington added 24 catches for 221 yards and one touchdown as a receiver — his reception total ranked third on the team behind Stanley Morgan Jr., and JD Spielman. Of course, the big question is how Washington’s legal troubles will be resolved and how it will affect his status with the team.

Former walk-on Wyatt Mazour enters the season as the Huskers’ second-leading returning rusher, having carried 11 times for 76 yards last season and a touchdown. Mazour’s experience could allow him to have a bigger role this season beyond his normal contributions on special teams.

The only other scholarship veteran running back on the roster is Jaylin Bradley, who redshirted a year ago, and had a chance to make a big impression during the spring after Nebraska’s running back depth chart cleared a bit. He carried 12 times for 57 yards in the spring game, but didn’t appear to solidify significant carries for the fall.

The running back room added talent over the summer as junior college transfer Dedrick Mills, and freshmen Rahmir Johnson and Ronald Thompkins arrived in Lincoln. All eyes will be on Mills, who was a freshman All-American at Georgia Tech before rushing for 1,358 yards and 19 touchdowns in 10 games at Garden City CC last year.

ONE BIG QUESTION

Who steps up at running back? The smart money is on Mills to have his say in the competition to be paired with Washington, but don’t rule out Nebraska’s group of freshmen in Johnson and Thompkins. There are certainly question marks around Thompkins, who is coming off a knee injury suffered during his senior year of high school.

The other question is how Nebraska will handle its rotation at running back — or whether there will even be a rotation. At UCF, Frost and his staff favored a revolving door of interchangeable backs. Last season in Lincoln, after a bit of running back roulette, Nebraska landed on Ozigbo as its primary runner.

How that plays out this season remains to be seen. Mills seems like the kind of back who could shoulder a big load as an every-down back, but Nebraska also potentially has the pieces to mix and match based on down and distance.

Scott Frost values versatility on offense, and the Husker running back room seems to be getting closer to that.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Rahmir Johnson may have been the forgotten member of Nebraska’s 2019 recruiting class. His recruitment was drama-free, and as a senior he ran for 1,334 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns. Add in the fact that Johnson was a 10.5 runner in the 100, and you can see why Nebraska targeted him for its up-tempo offense.

There was certainly plenty of attention on Mills and whether he would make it to Lincoln, but Johnson has a chance to make an early impact for Nebraska early on.