Duck Feed: 2010 Preview - Running Backs
2010 Preview - Running Backs
Thursday, March 18, 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spring Practice begins March 30 in Eugene, and as we count down the days until the formal kickoff of the 2010 season, Duck Feed will be offering up a look at what's on the horizon for Oregon Football. Today's topic: Running Backs.
Like the quarterback position, Oregon is not lacking for talent or depth at running back for the coming year. Of UO’s 2,213 net rushing yards by running backs, 1,979 – or 89.4 percent – were produced by players with remaining eligibility. And two of those players, LaMichael James (1.546 yards, 14 TD) and Kenjon Barner (366 yards, 6.0 ypc) are only sophomores.
James, the Pac-10’s offensive freshman of the year and focal point of the nation’s sixth-most prolific rushing attack in 2009, is on pace to shatter every meaningful running standard in Oregon football history. In an offense that will likely have more overall speed and playmakers than a year ago, it’s not unreasonable to expect even more big plays (he led the nation with 21 runs of 20-plus yards in ’09) from the likely All-America and Heisman Trophy candidate.
James must sit out the season opener against New Mexico due to suspension, but could still have 12 games to pile up yardage. Last season he only garnered two carries in the opener and totaled 78 yards through the first two games, but still managed to run for the second-most yards in a single season at Oregon.
RBs By Class
RS-SR Remene Alston Jr.
RS-SO Kenjon Barner
RS-SO LaMichael James
RS-FR Craig Loper
JR Andres Reed
JR Jide Shinaba
RS-FR Jordan Thompson
RS-FR Brandon Thurston
FR Lache Seastrunk
FR Dontae Williams
Initially recruited and signed as a defensive back, Barner quickly morphed back into the offensive player that led the State of California and ranked fourth nationally in rushing as a high school senior. Lost amid James breakout season was the fact that Barner ranked eighth in the Pac-10 in all-purpose yards (1,534). And while Masoli’s first-down run on 4th-and-3 late in the fourth quarter against Oregon State is widely regarded as the clinching moment of last year’s Civil War, it was actually Barner’s five-yard dash on 4th-and-2 with 1:43 left on the clock that salted away the victory. Look for his touches, limited somewhat due to being banged up at times last year, to increase in 2010.
Depth at the position comes in the form of Remene Alston Jr. - the only running back on the roster with more than 13 career appearances, having played in 19 games over his three seasons. Alston was Oregon’s fifth-leading rusher a year ago with 133 yards and two scores.
Perhaps the most anticipated storyline surrounding Oregon’s running backs will be how blue-chip recruits Lache Seastrunk (Temple, Texas/Temple) and Dontae Williams (Houston, Texas/Aldine) affect the depth chart when they arrive in the fall. Seastrunk, the nation’s No. 2 overall recruit regardless of position following his junior prep season, is UO’s first five-star running back recruit since Jonathan Stewart in 2005, and it didn’t take Stewart long to work his way onto the field.
Williams, a prep All-American and four-star prospect, has a physical running style that could compliment James and Barner, leading to early playing time.
Tomorrow's topic: Offensive Line.
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