LINCOLN -- Rahmir Johnson has had many jobs in six years as a Nebraska football player. He's taking on a new one this month.
Tour guide. The veteran running back is al-
ready the unofficial travel advisor for teammates looking to explore New York City when they're not at Pinstripe Bowl practices in the days leading up to the Dec. 28 kickoff.
Johnson grew up in Harlem -- perhaps five to 10 minutes from Yankee Stadium depending on which bridge one takes into the Bronx -- and much of his family now lives in Brooklyn.
11 a.m. Dec. 28
Yankee Stadium
ABC, 92.3 FM, 590 AM
"I told them when we get out there, 'I'll take care of y'all -- don't worry about that,'" Johnson said Thursday. "They're all excited about the city life, especially around Christmastime."
Johnson is among six Huskers from the Big Apple or North Jersey -- the others are defensive lineman Cam Lenhardt, offensive lineman Justin Evans, running back Kwinten Ives, reserve lineman Joey Mancino and redshirting placekicker Nico Ottomanelli. They and a few others are the exception on a roster with limited experience in the United States' largest metropolis.
"There's a lot to do," said Lenhardt, from Staten Island. "There are going to be a lot of people there, a lot of things going on."
Coach Matt Rhule -- once a New York City resident himself who lived on Roosevelt Island -- had Lenhardt explain to the team the fun to come.
Step No. 1 is to tour food spots. Finding a bacon, egg and cheese is high on the defender's list. The first thing he did when the Pinstripe Bowl selected Nebraska was text his mom he was coming home to play.
Cornerback Ceyair Wright said NYC during the holidays is something he's only seen in movies and is a personal "bucket-list thing." He wants to visit Central Park and see a Broadway play, perhaps the new production about Michael Jackson. He'll seek out a "chop cheese" -- a popular snack consisting of ground beef, onions and cheese in a soft hero roll and topped with ketchup, lettuce and tomato.
Johnson called the New York City finale a "fitting" end to his Nebraska career that's spanned three coaches, five offensive coordinators, three position coaches and more injuries than he can remember.
He committed to Nebraska and coach Scott Frost as a 17-year-old in May 2018 as a four-star prospect from Bergen County (N.J.) Catholic High School over a few other contenders that includes the Huskers' bowl opponent, Boston College.
Now Johnson, who turns 24 next month, is bracing for upwards of 75 family members, friends and former youth coaches to be in the stands watching his final college game.
The man once nicknamed the Harlem Hellcat by teammates laughed and shook his head at the idea of how expensive a week staying around Times Square during the holidays would typically be.
His top recommendation for first-time visitors is to see the stories-high Christmas tree outside Rockefeller Center. And, yeah, the wide-ranging culinary options.
"No offense to Nebraska, but I think we got more variety of foods over there," Johnson said. "I want to bring them to certain spots and show them the East Coast way of food."
Rhule this week said his sister moved from Brooklyn to North Jersey a couple years ago and works in the city. Both his parents -- who now reside in Omaha -- had jobs in the area during his childhood. Old friends from Roosevelt Island have reached out wondering if he'll have a chance to catch up.
"We love the city," Rhule said. "It's home. It's been home for a long time. We love the people that are there. So it will be fun."
While Rhule's Nebraska run is just starting, Johnson's is closing like the doors on a subway. The bowl trip feels like a full-circle moment for him. Back to his roots but also the end of a Husker season of life for which he's grateful.
It'll be the best of both worlds for a few busy days in New York City with his wideeyed teammates.
"To actually be there and get that actual experience?" Johnson said. "I'm sure it's going to be something they remember for a long time. I'm glad they get to see that."
[email protected], 402444-1201, twitter.com/ EvanBlandOWH