Former Oregon transfer deemed player with 'most to prove' in 2026

Going into the Oregon Ducks' spring football season a year ago, all the buzz centered on one transfer portal addition more than any other. Ultimately, that addition didn't work out.

Former Tulane Green Wave running back Makhi Hughes came to Eugene with high expectations, but for numerous reasons, he was not able to find success with the Ducks and ended up entering the transfer portal once again after rushing just 17 times for 70 yards at Oregon .

Now, as a member of the Houston Cougars , Hughes is looking for a bounce-back season. In fact, ESPN has named him one of the players with "the most to prove" going into the new season.

"A year ago, Hughes looked like one of the top non-QB transfers of the cycle, moving from Tulane to Oregon following a 1,400-yard season. But he could barely get on the field with a Ducks offense that had five players log more than 40 carries (Hughes had just 17 in six games). Ranked No. 30 in ESPN's preseason list of top 100 players, Hughes became a non-factor in Eugene. He now reunites with Willie Fritz, his coach at Tulane, and a Houston team coming off of a 10-win season and set to contend in the Big 12."

While many thought that Hughes would become the starter for the Ducks last year, the emergence of players like Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill ended up burying him on the depth chart, so it was no surprise to see him hit the portal.

Now, hopefully, he will be able to get back to his normal level of production with a fresh start with his old coach in Houston.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Former Oregon RB Makhi Hughes deemed player with 'most to prove'