Photo by: Samuel Marshall/Eric Evans Photography
Season In Review: Running Back
01/09/19 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Freshmen CJ Verdell and Travis Dye combined powerful running styles with solid receiving skills and pass protection for the Ducks in 2018.
Reviewing Oregon's 2018 season and looking ahead to spring drills.
DEPTH CHART
RB: CJ Verdell, RFr.; Travis Dye, Fr.; Tony Brooks-James, Sr.; Cyrus Habibi-Likio, RFr.; Darrian Felix, So.; Noah Dahl, So.; KJ Maduike, RFr.; Demarques Singleton, Fr.
Starters: There was LaMichael James in 2008 and Marcus Mariota in 2011, and then CJ Verdell in 2017. All generated big-time buzz on the Oregon scout-team offense in those seasons. Will Verdell enjoy the kind of UO career James and Mariota did? That's a lot to ask. But like the other two, he backed up the hype in his redshirt freshman season, becoming the third freshman in school history to run for 1,000 yards after James and Royce Freeman. Verdell passed that benchmark in the Redbox Bowl, finishing with 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns on 202 carries, for an average of 5.0 yards per carry. He also became just the third player in UO history with 1,000 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving, joining Terrence Whitehead and Freeman. Verdell's impact on the passing game went well beyond receiving, though, as he was a critical element of the Ducks' pass protection, a skill highly valued by first-year position coach Jim Mastro.
Verdell started five games in 2018, one fewer than senior Tony Brooks-James, the lead back for most of September. The Ducks' 2016 offensive MVP when he stepped in for the injured Freeman, Brooks-James couldn't harness that same level as a senior. His speed remained an asset, as Brooks-James led the regular backs with 5.4 yards per carry. But he wasn't as consistent as the younger backs as a receiver or in pass protection, and didn't seem as good a fit in the newly installed Pistol formation. The Ducks' second-leading rusher was true freshman Travis Dye, younger brother of the team's three-time leading tackler. Dye was a nice complement to Verdell, a cutback runner to counter Verdell's physical style. Dye averaged 5.3 yards on 140 carries, accounting for 739 yards and four touchdowns.
Reserves: Second on the team in rushing touchdowns behind Verdell was redshirt freshman Cyrus Habibi-Likio. He was Oregon's goal-line specialist, a guy with a big frame who keeps his legs churning after contact. Habibi-Likio ran for seven touchdowns on just 18 carries, getting his most extensive standard-down run against UCLA, with five carries for 20 yards. Also in the mix early in the year were senior Taj Griffin, who elected to leave the team at midseason, and Darrian Felix, who was sidelined by injury. Felix appeared in only two games, and thus was able to preserve a season of eligibility as a redshirt after playing as a true freshman in 2017.
Developmental Squad: Oregon's offensive scout-team player of the year was running back Noah Dahl. A tough walk-on from Silverton, Dahl carried the bulk of the load with the developmental squad this season until a knee injury sidelined him late in the season. Dahl is a no-nonsense runner between the tackles; his replacements in the run-up to the Redbox Bowl were KJ Maduike and Demarques Singleton. Singleton is another in-state player, from Grant High in Portland.
ROB'S TAKE
SPRING PROJECTION
RB: CJ Verdell, So.; Travis Dye, So.; Cyrus Habibi-Likio, So.; Darrian Felix, RSo.; Noah Dahl, Jr.; KJ Maduike, So.; Demarques Singleton, RFr.
What to Watch: The Ducks return enviable experience at running back. Verdell will look to follow up his 1,000-yard season, and there's no reason he can't set the bar even higher. Built like a bowling ball, the 201-pound mass of muscle hits the line with a full head of steam. By keeping his eyes up and looking for cutback lanes, he can more often show off the top-end speed he also possesses. Dye will enjoy a full offseason of strength and conditioning at Oregon, setting the stage for a big sophomore season. Habibi-Likio's well-rounded skill set is further enhanced by his ability to fill multiple roles on special teams. This group will be joined later this year by two signees from the December signing period, versatile all-purpose back Sean Dollars and Jayvaun Wilson, whose profile is in the mold of Habibi-Likio.
DEPTH CHART
RB: CJ Verdell, RFr.; Travis Dye, Fr.; Tony Brooks-James, Sr.; Cyrus Habibi-Likio, RFr.; Darrian Felix, So.; Noah Dahl, So.; KJ Maduike, RFr.; Demarques Singleton, Fr.
Starters: There was LaMichael James in 2008 and Marcus Mariota in 2011, and then CJ Verdell in 2017. All generated big-time buzz on the Oregon scout-team offense in those seasons. Will Verdell enjoy the kind of UO career James and Mariota did? That's a lot to ask. But like the other two, he backed up the hype in his redshirt freshman season, becoming the third freshman in school history to run for 1,000 yards after James and Royce Freeman. Verdell passed that benchmark in the Redbox Bowl, finishing with 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns on 202 carries, for an average of 5.0 yards per carry. He also became just the third player in UO history with 1,000 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving, joining Terrence Whitehead and Freeman. Verdell's impact on the passing game went well beyond receiving, though, as he was a critical element of the Ducks' pass protection, a skill highly valued by first-year position coach Jim Mastro.
Verdell started five games in 2018, one fewer than senior Tony Brooks-James, the lead back for most of September. The Ducks' 2016 offensive MVP when he stepped in for the injured Freeman, Brooks-James couldn't harness that same level as a senior. His speed remained an asset, as Brooks-James led the regular backs with 5.4 yards per carry. But he wasn't as consistent as the younger backs as a receiver or in pass protection, and didn't seem as good a fit in the newly installed Pistol formation. The Ducks' second-leading rusher was true freshman Travis Dye, younger brother of the team's three-time leading tackler. Dye was a nice complement to Verdell, a cutback runner to counter Verdell's physical style. Dye averaged 5.3 yards on 140 carries, accounting for 739 yards and four touchdowns.
Reserves: Second on the team in rushing touchdowns behind Verdell was redshirt freshman Cyrus Habibi-Likio. He was Oregon's goal-line specialist, a guy with a big frame who keeps his legs churning after contact. Habibi-Likio ran for seven touchdowns on just 18 carries, getting his most extensive standard-down run against UCLA, with five carries for 20 yards. Also in the mix early in the year were senior Taj Griffin, who elected to leave the team at midseason, and Darrian Felix, who was sidelined by injury. Felix appeared in only two games, and thus was able to preserve a season of eligibility as a redshirt after playing as a true freshman in 2017.
Developmental Squad: Oregon's offensive scout-team player of the year was running back Noah Dahl. A tough walk-on from Silverton, Dahl carried the bulk of the load with the developmental squad this season until a knee injury sidelined him late in the season. Dahl is a no-nonsense runner between the tackles; his replacements in the run-up to the Redbox Bowl were KJ Maduike and Demarques Singleton. Singleton is another in-state player, from Grant High in Portland.
ROB'S TAKE
SPRING PROJECTION
RB: CJ Verdell, So.; Travis Dye, So.; Cyrus Habibi-Likio, So.; Darrian Felix, RSo.; Noah Dahl, Jr.; KJ Maduike, So.; Demarques Singleton, RFr.
What to Watch: The Ducks return enviable experience at running back. Verdell will look to follow up his 1,000-yard season, and there's no reason he can't set the bar even higher. Built like a bowling ball, the 201-pound mass of muscle hits the line with a full head of steam. By keeping his eyes up and looking for cutback lanes, he can more often show off the top-end speed he also possesses. Dye will enjoy a full offseason of strength and conditioning at Oregon, setting the stage for a big sophomore season. Habibi-Likio's well-rounded skill set is further enhanced by his ability to fill multiple roles on special teams. This group will be joined later this year by two signees from the December signing period, versatile all-purpose back Sean Dollars and Jayvaun Wilson, whose profile is in the mold of Habibi-Likio.
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