Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Season In Review: RB
01/11/24 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Bucky Irving capped a prolific two-year run with the Ducks in 2023, while Jordan James proved himself to be another well-rounded threat for Oregon.
Reviewing Oregon's 2023 season and looking ahead to spring drills.
2023 ROSTER
RB: Bucky Irving, Jr.; Jordan James, So.; Noah Whittington, Jr.; Jayden Limar, Fr.; Dante Dowdell, Fr.; Kilohana Haasenritter, So.; Brison Cobbins, So.; Ellis Bynum, RFr.
Starter: During his two years with the Ducks, nobody in the Pac-12 Conference rushed for more yards than Bucky Irving. His 2,238 yards across 2022 and 2023 were 27 more than Jaydn Ott of Cal, and 71 more than Damien Martinez of Oregon State. By posting two of the top 20 best season rushing totals in UO history, Irving became just the fourth back to have done so to this point, joining LaMichael James, Royce Freeman and Onterrio Smith. Irving ran with breathtaking toughness and balance, refusing to be taken down by a single tackler; his 6.54 yards per carry is fourth-best in Oregon history behind Jeremiah Johnson, Marcus Mariota and James.
Irving was at his best in big games — no other back in UO history has run for 100 yards in multiple bowl games, as Irving did in the 2022 Holiday Bowl and this past season's Fiesta Bowl. He also set a fiery tone as a leader, demanding teammates compete with the same passion for the Oregon football program that he himself embraced upon arriving in Eugene. The UO coaching staff's ability to identify players who are the right fit for the program based on both talent and character has been elite the past two years, and Irving is a prime example.
Reserves: Early in the season, Irving was again complemented by the explosive, elusive style of Noah Whittington, another elite transfer portal addition prior to the 2022 season. Sadly, Whittington's 2023 season was cut short due to injury after four games in which he averaged 7.3 yards per carry — just shy of James' school single-season record from 2011. But the rotation at running back remained stable as sophomore Jordan James stepped up to run for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns. James was a short-yardage specialist in 2022 who was eager to show he could play a more well-rounded role going forward, and he more than proved that with his showing in 2023.
Developmental squad: True freshmen Jayden Limar and Dante Dowdell began the season spending some time with the "look" team in practices, but after Whittington's injury they rotated more with the primary offense. Limar ended up appearing in 11 games, rushing for 99 yards and a touchdown, while Dowdell ran for 90 yards and a score across six appearances. Kilohana Haasenritter again provided depth both offensively and on special teams, and was joined on the "look" team by Brison Cobbins and Ellis Bynum.
2024 SPRING PREVIEW
Veterans: Jordan James, Jr.; Noah Whittington, Sr.; Jayden Limar, So.; Kilohana Haasenritter, Jr.; Brison Cobbins, Jr.; Ellis Bynum, So.
Newcomers: Jay Harris, Jr.
What to Watch: After taking a big step in his development over the past year, James has the chance to take another now that Irving is preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft. One of the stories to watch come spring will be whether Whittington is cleared yet to be full-go in practice; until then, James is by far the most experienced, proven back in the fold. But Limar showed flashes of being another well-rounded threat during his initial season in college. And the Ducks have added a former Division-II all-American in Jay Harris, a big runner sure to draw comparisons to the likes of LeGarrette Blount given his willingness to go over, around or through an opposing tackler.
2023 ROSTER
RB: Bucky Irving, Jr.; Jordan James, So.; Noah Whittington, Jr.; Jayden Limar, Fr.; Dante Dowdell, Fr.; Kilohana Haasenritter, So.; Brison Cobbins, So.; Ellis Bynum, RFr.
Starter: During his two years with the Ducks, nobody in the Pac-12 Conference rushed for more yards than Bucky Irving. His 2,238 yards across 2022 and 2023 were 27 more than Jaydn Ott of Cal, and 71 more than Damien Martinez of Oregon State. By posting two of the top 20 best season rushing totals in UO history, Irving became just the fourth back to have done so to this point, joining LaMichael James, Royce Freeman and Onterrio Smith. Irving ran with breathtaking toughness and balance, refusing to be taken down by a single tackler; his 6.54 yards per carry is fourth-best in Oregon history behind Jeremiah Johnson, Marcus Mariota and James.
Irving was at his best in big games — no other back in UO history has run for 100 yards in multiple bowl games, as Irving did in the 2022 Holiday Bowl and this past season's Fiesta Bowl. He also set a fiery tone as a leader, demanding teammates compete with the same passion for the Oregon football program that he himself embraced upon arriving in Eugene. The UO coaching staff's ability to identify players who are the right fit for the program based on both talent and character has been elite the past two years, and Irving is a prime example.
Reserves: Early in the season, Irving was again complemented by the explosive, elusive style of Noah Whittington, another elite transfer portal addition prior to the 2022 season. Sadly, Whittington's 2023 season was cut short due to injury after four games in which he averaged 7.3 yards per carry — just shy of James' school single-season record from 2011. But the rotation at running back remained stable as sophomore Jordan James stepped up to run for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns. James was a short-yardage specialist in 2022 who was eager to show he could play a more well-rounded role going forward, and he more than proved that with his showing in 2023.
Developmental squad: True freshmen Jayden Limar and Dante Dowdell began the season spending some time with the "look" team in practices, but after Whittington's injury they rotated more with the primary offense. Limar ended up appearing in 11 games, rushing for 99 yards and a touchdown, while Dowdell ran for 90 yards and a score across six appearances. Kilohana Haasenritter again provided depth both offensively and on special teams, and was joined on the "look" team by Brison Cobbins and Ellis Bynum.
2024 SPRING PREVIEW
Veterans: Jordan James, Jr.; Noah Whittington, Sr.; Jayden Limar, So.; Kilohana Haasenritter, Jr.; Brison Cobbins, Jr.; Ellis Bynum, So.
Newcomers: Jay Harris, Jr.
What to Watch: After taking a big step in his development over the past year, James has the chance to take another now that Irving is preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft. One of the stories to watch come spring will be whether Whittington is cleared yet to be full-go in practice; until then, James is by far the most experienced, proven back in the fold. But Limar showed flashes of being another well-rounded threat during his initial season in college. And the Ducks have added a former Division-II all-American in Jay Harris, a big runner sure to draw comparisons to the likes of LeGarrette Blount given his willingness to go over, around or through an opposing tackler.
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