If you’re just freshening up on the Minnesota Vikings’ draft process, it’s a good idea to get to know the name Emmett Johnson, a running back from Nebraska. He wants to play for the Vikings, his hometown team, so much so that he issued a lighthearted ultimatum this week.

The hometown tailback offers production, youth, and a direct reason for the Vikings to consider him on draft weekend.

Johnson told Twin Cities Live this week that the franchise won’t regret drafting him, but will rue facing him for 10 years if it does not.

Minnesota Could Have a Natural Mid-Round Option at RB

Some bravado from Minnesota’s possible next tailback.

The Johnson Ultimatum

Johnson is indeed on the Vikings’ draft radar, as he recently met with the coaching staff and front office on a pre-draft visit.

About that discussion, Johnson said this week, “I told them I said if y’all take a chance on me, it’s gonna be the best thing that they ever did. But if y’all don’t, you gotta see me for 10 years. That’s kinda how I feel, to be honest.”

“They’re definitely interested,” Johnson said about the Vikings, “I’m a hometown kid.”

Here’s the footage:

It’s Personal for Johnson

Johnson attended Holy Angels in Richfield and grew up a Vikings fan. He said at the NFL Combine that he would love to play for the Vikings, and as his hometown team needs a young runner — they haven’t picked one with early-round draft capital in seven years — the connection checks out. There’s a reason Minnesota is interested in Johnson; Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, the current co-RB1s, are scheduled to test free agency in 2027.

It’s a fantastic setup for Johnson, and he’s obviously not afraid to pound the table for his hometown team to take the plunge.

Johnson ranks at No. 109 on the current Consensus Big Board, meaning Minnesota will probably have to use one of its 3rd-Round picks to make his dream come true. The Vikings pick 82nd and 97th in “Johnson territory.”

The College Production and Skill Set

Listed at 5’10” and 200 pounds, Johnson’s strong, stocky build is well-suited for the position’s physical demands. His impressive 2025 season — 1,824 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns — demonstrates his ability to handle a heavy workload and maintain offensive momentum, even under pressure.

At 22 years old, Johnson enters the league at a typical rookie age, suggesting he has the maturity to contribute immediately.

The only drawback to his Vikings agenda? He’s not much of a pass-blocker, and in the past, that seemed to be required of a halfback in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

Pro Football Focus‘s Trevor Sikkema on Johnson: “His game is built on outstanding vision and elusiveness, highlighted by some of the quickest feet in this class. That allows him to navigate traffic effectively in man- and gap-scheme concepts, where he has posted an elite rushing grade over the past two seasons.”

“Johnson is a natural receiver out of the backfield, and while he shows the mentality for strong pass protection, he could be overpowered at the next level due to his lack of bulk. Johnson has Excellent footwork; light on his feet with precise and explosive cuts behind man-gap concepts.”

Johnson initially ran a 4.56 forty at the NFL Combine, which scared some onlookers, but at his Pro Day, he rebounded with a 4.46.

Sikkema added, “He has natural hands as a receiver with high yards per route run usage and missed tackles forced per reception in space. He also runs with a determined style, consistently displaying high effort and competitive toughness. Johnson brings excellent footwork and quickness to the backfield, with good receiving ability to boot.”

“His resume is of a player who can be successful in man- or gap-blocking concepts, with three-down potential, especially as a receiver.”

What If He’s… Right?

Johnson might have a point with his half-joking ultimatum. Across the lay of the land in the NFC North, every team could use a running back. In Chicago, D’Andre Swift’s contract expires at the end of the 2026 season. The Bears may need a young tailback to pair with Kyle Monagai in 2027 and beyond.

The Green Bay Packers employ Josh Jacobs, who turned 28 this offseason. Some running backs begin an age-related decline around 28, and it wouldn’t be strange for Jacobs to fall victim to that fate. The Packers’ current RB2 is Chris Brooks, a rather anonymous talent in NFL-speak.

And while the Lions have Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery left via trade to the Houston Texans. If newcomer Isiah Pacheco doesn’t work out as the RB2, a man like Johnson would make sense behind Gibbs.

In an RB-needy NFC North, the Vikings should backhandedly consider Johnson’s playful ultimatum. He has a point.

It’s also the kind of swagger you want to see from a running back.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said government is working towards a legislation that would criminalise trafficking and administration of prohibited performance-enhancing substances to athletes.

Speaking at the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Global Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network (GAIIN) Final Conference here, the minister said India, which has topped the global list of dope offenders for the past three years, would aggressively tackle the menace that casts a massive shadow on its aspirations of hosting the Olympics in 2036.

“We are working on introducing criminal provisions for athlete support staff or other persons involved in trafficking and administering banned substances,” Mandaviya said, making it apparent that coaches who are found encouraging use of banned substances by athletes would be among those at the receiving end.

Currently, India does not have penal provisions to tackle supply of banned substances to athletes and disciplinary action is limited to bans that can last up to a lifetime depending on the degree of the offence. 

“Doping is no longer individual conduct. It is organised multi-national enterprise. The threat of doping undermines sport as India becomes a global sporting hub. Regulations are not enough. Ethics and values are at the core of sports but growing pressure of competition can lead to doping,” Mandaviya stressed.

“India is committed not only to sporting excellence but to upholding the highest standards of integrity.” 
Addressing the conference on Thursday, Mandaviya said India has undertaken proactive reforms “not just for compliance, but with a genuine commitment to the integrity of sports.” 
On preventive measures, Mandaviya stressed that “prevention remains the most effective strategy.” 
“Providing the right information at the right time empowers athletes to make informed decisions and avoid both intentional and accidental violations,” he added.

India has significantly expanded its anti-doping testing from around 4,000 tests in 2019 to approximately 8,000 tests in the past year.

Mandaviya noted a significant decline in adverse analytical findings, from 5.6 per cent in 2019 to less than two per cent currently, reflecting the impact of “sustained awareness and preventive efforts.

NFL Draft prospect Jacob Rodriguez is going to have a pretty cool job to tell people about when he’s taken next week by an NFL team to begin his professional football journey.

But if you were to ask Rodriguez, his wife, Emma, has the coolest job in the family.

“Any time I get the chance to talk about her is the best. Every time I get the chance to tell people what she does for a living, they’re blown away, and rightfully so,” Rodriguez told Fox News Digital during a recent interview.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

NFL prospect Jacob Rodriguez and his wife, Emma, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot for the United States Army, partnered with USAA, the official “Salute to Service” partner of the NFL. (USAA)

Emma Rodriguez is a 15A Aviation Officer in the United States Army. She flies the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. While Jacob was chasing his football dreams at the University of Virginia before transferring to Texas Tech, Emma, his high school sweetheart, was a West Point cadet.

So, it only seemed right for them to partner with USAA, the official “Salute to Service” partner of the NFL, ahead of Jacob’s start in pro football to help inspire all service members sacrificing for our country just as Emma does.

TOP NFL DRAFT PROSPECT WRITES MOVING LETTER ABOUT GROWING UP WITH A STUTTER, THE ADVERSITY HE FACED

“I think they do a tremendous job, and they actually got to take us out to a simulator,” Jacob said of USAA. “I got to go, and my wife got to teach me how to fly, and that was a very fun experience. It’s something I didn’t think I would be able to do. Just partnering with them and being able to serve as many people as we can.”

On the gridiron, Jacob knows efficiency, strength, focus and more is needed to perform at a high level. But being in that simulator gave him a newfound appreciation for what his wife does when she goes to work each day.

“What she does is very hard work, and it’s very stressful. But she’s up to the task,” Jacob explained. “She’s always busy, always preparing, getting ready. And it just helps me out so much because I know somebody who’s working so hard and has so much on their shoulders that I get to do what I do for fun. I get to just have a lot of fun when I’m doing it. When I get to support her and show her all the appreciation I have for her, it means a lot to me.”

Their love story is one that certainly pulls at the heartstrings.

Jacob Rodriguez and his wife, Emma Rodriguez, celebrate after the Big 12 championship game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 6, 2025. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

They grew up in North Texas, attending rival high schools but building a bond that would face adversity given their individual dreams. Emma was heading to West Point in New York, while Jacob was trying to become a quarterback at Virginia. 

They each faced their own levels of adversity, with Jacob transferring to Texas Tech to become a linebacker without a scholarship at first, while Emma was fighting to get through her first year at West Point.

But their bond grew stronger despite the distance and personal struggles, and on July 1, 2023, they didn’t just get engaged. They got married on the same day.

EMMITT SMITH GIVES ADVICE TO NFL HOPEFUL SON WHO ONCE ADMITTED TO FEELING PRESSURE OF LIVING UP TO FAMILY NAME

Since then, they’ve been each other’s rock, and Jacob couldn’t be more grateful to have someone like Emma by his side as he looks ahead to next Thursday’s draft.

“We try to be there as much as we can,” he said. “It helps that she’s doing what she’s doing, and I’m doing what I’m doing. She understands how high-performing my environment is, and now I can understand the environment she has. You have to always be efficient, on your toes, be ready to go, be prepared. 

“Just being able to support each other, knowing what we have to do and knowing how much work needs to be put in, we can both really be efficient with our communication. We can both know there’s more to it than just work. It’s a true, special connection, and we’re just so thankful for each other. And I’m so thankful for everything she does and the way she supports me.”

While Jacob is anxious waiting to see where his NFL journey begins, Emma is also set to deploy in a few months. But while the long-distance relationship may have to continue, they will be together next week to experience the draft together.

Jacob Rodriguez of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates with his wife Emma Rodriguez after the Big 12 championship game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 6, 2025. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“With the NFL Draft coming up, she’ll be right there to support me. But if anything comes up on her side, I’ll be right there to support her. It’s nice when you have that coming from the house and being around each other.

“What I do is something I can really appreciate and something I never take for granted.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) extended their unbeaten run in IPL 2026 by claiming a dominant seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) on Thursday, April 16. PBKS won the toss and elected to field first at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

MI were without Rohit Sharma in the clash. The veteran opener missed the game due to a hamstring injury, and Quinton de Kock was added to the playing XI. The South African keeper-batter shone with the bat, slamming a stunning century in his first match of the season.

De Kock remained unbeaten on 112 off 60 balls. Naman Dhir supported him with a crucial 50-run knock from 31 balls. The hosts fell short of the 200-run mark despite a 122-run stand between the two for the third wicket.

MI couldn’t finish their innings on a high note and posted 195/6 in 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers with his 3/22 in four overs. PBKS chased the target comfortably in 16.3 overs.

Prabhsimran Singh scored a dazzling 80* off 39, while skipper Shreyas Iyer contributed 66 off 35 deliveries. Afghan spinner Allah Ghazanfar picked up two wickets for MI.

The win took PBKS to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. They have four wins and one no result to their name after five games. MI, on the other hand, suffered their fourth defeat on the trot. The five-time champions are languishing in the ninth spot with just one win from five games.

Here, we take a look at three moments from the match that generated a buzz among fans.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah’s dropped catch proves costly

PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh took the game away with his attacking batting. The wicketkeeper-batter struck two sixes and 11 fours, finishing with a strike rate of 205.13.

Notably, MI skipper Hardik Pandya almost dismissed the dangerous batter in the powerplay when he was on 11 off five balls. Prabhsimran attempted the cut shot off a slower short ball on the first ball of the fourth over.

However, he failed to clear the infield, and the ball went to Jasprit Bumrah at short third man. The speedster failed to hang onto the catch, giving the 25-year-old a reprieve. MI had to pay for the costly mistake as Prabhsimran played a match-defining knock.

#2 Arshdeep Singh rattles MI with early twin strikes

Arshdeep Singh gave PBKS an ideal start by taking two wickets off successive balls in the third over. Opener Ryan Rickelton (2 off 8) was the first one to perish. The southpaw got a decent connection on the flick shot, but it went straight to Shashank Singh at deep square leg. It was also the left-arm seamer’s 100th IPL wicket.

The onus was on senior batter Suryakumar Yadav to rescue his team after the early breakthrough. However, he fell for a golden duck. The right-handed batter got the outside edge while going for the drive and was caught at short third man by Yuzvendra Chahal.

#1 PBKS captain’s jaw-dropping effort ends Hardik Pandya’s stay at the crease

Shreyas Iyer produced a terrific effort in the deep to dismiss opposite number Hardik Pandya in the 18th over. Hardik went for a big hit down the ground but got the bottom of his bat.

It initially seemed that he might have just gotten enough distance to clear the ropes. However, Iyer had other plans. He ran from long-on and leapt in the air to take the catch.

Iyer would have landed outside the boundary ropes. He showed great presence of mind, tossing the ball towards Xavier Bartlett, who completed the relay catch. Even the MI dug out looked stunned by the PBKS captain’s brilliance.