Nebraska extends running backs coach E.J. Barthel

Nebraska football agreed to an extension with running backs coach E.J. Barthel on Tuesday. The contract extension runs through 2027 and sees his salary increase from $293,550 to $450,000.

This extension follows several reports that the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Texas Longhorns were after Barthel for the same position. Barthel has been at Nebraska since 2023.

The Huskers averaged 130.6 yards on the ground last year, which ranked them 11^th in the Big Ten overall. Their leading rusher last season was Dante Dowdell, who recorded 614 yards and 12 touchdowns on 143 carries. Emmett Johnson was also a major part of the rushing attack, as he carried the ball 116 times for 591 yards.

This represents continuity for the Nebraska football running game. In addition to his skill set, Barthel is also known to be a strong recruiter in the Northeast region. This extension gives the Nebraska football running game a chance to build on last year’s strong season.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska football extends running backs coach E.J. Barthel through ’27