At the top of the positon, the Oregon Ducks are set at running back. The phenomenal true freshman duo from 2025 of Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. is back for their sophomore campaigns after combining for 1,522 total yards and 21 total touchdowns. Those numbers should balloon even more with the departure of Noah Whittington, who led the team in rushing yards and departed for the 2026 NFL Draft.
But all anyone has to do is look back at the week leading up to the College Football Playoff Semifinals against the Indiana Hoosiers from last season to know that more depth is needed outside of just Davison and Hill. During that time, both Whittington and Davison were ruled out with injuries while several others entered the transfer portal, leaving the team.
Hill and since-departed running back Jay Harris (now at Kansas State ) were the only available backs for the Ducks , and it had a hand in their 56-22 defeat.
That's why head coach Dan Lanning went to work in adding to that position via the portal and 2026 class this offseason while also retaining a key reserve — and why ESPN named the Ducks' running backs as the position of intrigue to watch during Oregon's spring game on Saturday.
"The Ducks lost their leading rusher, Noah Whittington (829 yards, six TD), but might have a better backfield next season thanks to the expected development of Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr," ESPN analyst Kyle Bonagura wrote. "The talented duo both rushed for over 600 yards as freshmen last season, combining for 20 touchdowns on the ground (Davison 15, Hill 5). As the Ducks experienced in the College Football Playoff, though, this is a position where depth is important, making this spring a key time to build confidence in the players behind them, including Da'Jaun Riggs, who received 28 carries and rushed for 168 yards over the past two seasons in low-pressure situations."
While practices are closed to the public, Riggs appears to be the leader in the clubhouse to assume the RB3 role. He's entering his redshirt sophomore season after receiving limited opportunities during his first two seasons, but showed some pop when he did carry the ball. Riggs has been in Oregon's system for two more seasons than any other challenger, including Colorado transfer back Simeon Price.
Meanwhile, Price arrives as a seasoned veteran after time at Mississippi State (2022-2023), Coastal Carolina (2024) and Colorado (2025). While he brings experience and maturity to the running back room, he too has limited production with just 470 career rushing yards.
Count true freshman four-stars Tradarian Ball and Brandon Smith as potential contributors as well, as Lanning isn't afraid to put youngsters on the field early as evidenced by Davison and Hill.
The spring game is the perfect low-stakes proving ground for everyone on the team — but especially at the running back position, where youth is littered throughout amid a battle to receive carries behind the Ducks' talented duo.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: ESPN tabs Ducks' undetermined RB depth as intriguing spring game story
