ROSTER PREVIEW: RUNNING BACK ROOM MORE OPEN THAN EVER

ROSTER PREVIEW: RUNNING BACK ROOM ROSTER PREVIEW: RUNNING BACK ROOM MORE OPEN THAN EVER MORE OPEN THAN EVER As fall camp begins, who will emerge as the Ducks’ go to back? BY JACK AARON

The words “Oregon Ducks” and “running back” have almost become synonymous in the program’s history. From the great Derek Loville in the late 1980s, to former head coach Chip Kelly’s backs LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and Royce Freeman, the position has played an integral part in the success of Oregon football over the past decades.

With Travis Dye and C.J. Verdell — respectively the No. 5 and No. 6 leading rushers in program history — no longer with the team, there’s an obvious hole at the position. Dye and Verdell combined for over 6,000 rushing yards in their respective careers at Oregon. Someone will need to pick up where they left off.

Although the Ducks lost two starting running backs, it doesn’t mean the team is devoid of talent at the position. The team is bringing back former four-star recruits Byron Cardwell and Sean Dollars and added transfers Noah Whittington and Mar’Keise Irving.

Cardwell is the most likely candidate to become the Ducks’ primary back. The San Diego native played a part in a rushing offense that averaged 202.4 yards per game along with 2.5 touchdowns last season. He finished the season with 417 yards, three rushing touchdowns and an impressive 6.8 yards per carry. He wasn’t included much in the passing game, as he only hauled in four catches on the year.

“This offseason I’d say I’ve grown in every aspect,” Cardwell said. “Just having the experience of my first year, carrying that into the offseason. Setting high standards for myself and not allowing myself to settle for average. Just in all aspects mental, physical, emotional, even the playbook, just all over getting better.”

Cardwell showcased his talent in last season’s matchup versus Washington State where he rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns on only nine carries. This outstanding performance earned him Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.

The sophomore was recently named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, given to the best running back in the nation. If Cardwell were to win, he would join James as the only Ducks to receive this honor. As of August 1, Cardwell sits atop the depth chart as the stand-in starter.

Second on the depth chart is an intriguing transfer, Noah Whittington. Whittington ran for a total of 617 yards on 6.1 yards per rush, along with two touchdowns over 12 games.

The former Hilltopper was recruited as a wide receiver, and that’s obvious when looking at his tape from the past season. As a pass catcher, he tacked on 12 receptions for 58 yards. His versatility in the passing game could lead to him being a major player in the backfield.

It’s worth mentioning that Oregon’s running backs coach Carlos Locklyn is familiar with Whittington from his own time at Western Kentucky.

“The year I was with [Coach Locklyn] at Western, he really developed me. Not as much as a running back, but as a person and a football player,” Whittington said. “[Oregon] offered me the opportunity to come here and compete and that’s what I’m here to do.”

Right behind Whittington on the depth chart is redshirt junior Mar’Keise Irving. The Minnesota transfer was a four-star recruit and the No. 5 running back out of Illinois in the class of 2020. On 133 attempts, Irving rushed for 699 yards and 4 touchdowns, making him the most productive back out of the bunch in 2021.

“It’s great because if you’ve got all good backs in the room it makes it even better to go out there and compete with the best guys in the country,” Irving said. “I don’t really pay attention to the depth chart, I just go out there and grind.”

Sean Dollars could also be an under-the-radar option. A stacked running back room in the past two years has prevented him from showing his full potential — something that could change with Verdell and Dye vacating their locked down positions at numbers one and two on the depth chart. In 2019 and 2020, he rushed for 128 yards on 15 carries.

“I’m pretty hungry for this season,” Dollars said. “I feel like it was definitely a humbling experience from all angles but I also had an opportunity to learn from a lot of other people. I’ve had a lot of guidance coming up here these past few years.”

From being the number two allpurpose back in his class, Dollars has all the tools to become a star for this team.

There’s loads of talent in the running back room this year, which makes it seem like every back will get a chance to show what they have. If Dan Lanning learned anything about the running back position from his time at Georgia, it’s that there needs to be multiple backs who can play different roles out of the backfield.

What seems to be the most likely scenario is one where Cardwell will handle the first and second down duties. Irving and Whittington would take care of the third down back responsibilities — mainly as pass catchers. Dollars could also get some time as a third-down back if he stays healthy and integrates well in the new system. We’ll see which backs separate themselves in the coming weeks as fall camp has officially started.

Noah Whittington (22) celebrates with a teamate after running the ball for a touchdown. The Oregon Football team competes in it’s annual spring game on April 23rd, 2022 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

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