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Da’Jaun Riggs working toward bounce-back season with Ducks
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- Da’Jaun Riggs working toward bounce-back season with Ducks
All eyes are watching Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. as fans await an encore performance after a tremendous first campaign for the Oregon Ducks' duo. As they should be, with the pairing expected to take center stage in the Ducks' backfield this fall following the departure of Noah Whittington .
Still, the Ducks often feature a rotation of three or four running backs in the offense, and that likely won't change with Drew Mehringer taking over as offensive coordinator this season. This spring, the third spot in the running back room is up for grabs. The competition is pretty fierce with a trio of new faces.
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Colorado transfer Simeon Price is entering his sixth-season of college football. Tradarian Ball and Brandon Smith are a pair of true freshmen looking to make a name for themselves. Then, there's Da'Jaun "Dink" Riggs. A redshirt-sophomore who has the advantage of knowing the system already, but hasn't been able to find time on the field.
In two seasons, Riggs has only had 28 carries for the Ducks. Injuries have kept Riggs off the field and at the bottom of the depth chart at a position the Ducks are typically loaded with talent. The 6-foot, 205-pound tailback had 17 carries for 86 yards last season, appearing in only five games. Riggs was sidelined with an injury down the stretch and didn't see the field after a mid-October trip to Rutgers.
"For Dink, the mental process has been really important," Oregon running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples said. "Obviously, he had an injury. He's had a couple of injuries since he's been here. So just talking to that guy, like, 'How can you help yourself when you're not on the field and guys are physically able to get better? You got to be in the film room, right?' You have to communicate the offense. You have to be able to teach it and regurgitate the same thing that I'm saying."
Riggs is definitely in the thick of the competition for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart at running back. The former three-star recruit doesn't have the same recruiting pedigree and expectations as Smith and Ball, nor the on-field experience that Price has.
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Instead, Riggs has familiarity with the coaching staff and in the film room. Samples has seen the work Riggs has put in off the field, and it's paying off this spring as he fights for a role in the offense once again.
"He's gained weight, he's gotten bigger, he's gotten stronger in the weight room," Samples said. "So that's just going to help him physically. He understands the offense. He's a really smart kid. Once he's able to go and compete, he's already out there, but once he's just back to his normal self, he's getting back to it. I mean, he's gonna insert himself in that competition."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon RB Da'Jaun Riggs reaching for new heights in bounce-back season
