Oregon Ducks RB Preview: Davison, Hill set to split backfield
· Yahoo Sports
Since Dan Lanning took over as head coach, the Oregon Ducks have steadily moved closer to capturing the elusive national championship. In 2025, Oregon advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals, but once again saw its title pursuit end short of the ultimate goal.
Now, with a veteran core returning and one of the most talented rosters in the country, the Ducks enter 2026 with a legitimate opportunity to deliver the championship season their fans have been waiting for.
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To be successful in 2026, the Ducks will need the running back room to complement Dante Moore on offense. The room saw plenty of change this offseason, and while the top of the pecking order is fairly clear, an internal battle for spots on the depth chart heading into the season could make things interesting when the Ducks finally hit the field. Once fall camp begins, the deck will shuffle and eventually favorites for roles will emerge, but for now, everything is up for debate.
Let's dive into the running back room in Eugene and see what's new and how things could shake out during fall camp.
State of the Oregon Ducks Running Backs
For the third year in a row, the Ducks are losing their defined leader in the room. First it was Bucky Irving, then it was Jordan James, now it's Noah Whittington who is off to the next level. However, Oregon has always recruited well at running back, and that was on full display last season, thanks to freshman breakouts Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr., both of whom figure to share a feature role in the backfield this season.
Oregon averaged 198.6 yards per game on the ground last season, good for third-most in the Big Ten. Rolling into the Peach Bowl to end the year, the room was in bad shape, thanks to injuries to Davison and Whittington and several early departures into the transfer portal. Oregon's depth in the room wasn't as great as it was perceived to be, and the Ducks addressed it quickly. A pair of freshmen enter the fold with Tradarian Ball and Brandon Smith, Da'Jaun Riggs is back and healthy, and the Ducks added a veteran ball carrier in Colorado transfer Simeon Price.
The Ducks often deploy at least three running backs regularly within a game, and with Davison and Hill snagging the two lead spots, there is a battle to be had in fall camp for the third spot. There are a lot of mouths to feed, but given the new eligibility rules, Drew Mehringer might be more inclined to share the ball more to keep his stars fresh for the end of the season.
While the newfound depth inspires confidence, there is a relative sense of unknown about how they will all be featured in Mehringer's offense. The scheme is expected to be similar to Will Stein's offense, but how often the rotation shows itself will be worth watching during the first few games of the season, especially with the third spot on the depth chart up for grabs during fall camp.
Who's Gone, Who's Back, and Who's New?
Departures
Noah Whittington was a leader beyond the position room for the Ducks over his four seasons in Eugene. He was never a bell-cow back for the Ducks, sharing the backfield with Irving and James before Davison and Hill last season. His tough running and ability to slip out of the backfield and catch the ball will be missed in Autzen Stadium this year.
Beyond Whittington, the room was mixed up by departures through the transfer portal. Happy trails to Jayden Limar, who transferred to rival Washington after never emerging from the middle of the depth chart in Eugene. Jay Harris had an outstanding final showing with the Ducks against Indiana, but transferred to Kansas State in the offseason. Makhi Hughes, who many believed would be the starter heading into last season, appeared in only four games before transferring to Houston.
Returners
Jordon Davison's team-high 15 touchdowns are the second-most for an Oregon freshman tailback ever, trailing only Royce Freeman, who scored 18 times in 2014. This season, Davison won't be just a short-yardage back, but rather an every-down player thanks to his physical approach. He is joined by Dierre Hill Jr., who returns after a standout freshman season of his own, amassing 793 total yards and six touchdowns. Hill and Davison will be the big duo in the backfield this season, thanks to their varying styles of play.
Da'Jaun Riggs is the final returner and finds himself in a unique position within the position room. Entering his third season with the Ducks, he is the most experienced in the room and has the most familiarity with the offense. However, he has battled injuries and hasn't seen the field much, appearing in just five games last season. Riggs has worked to get bigger this offseason, but the excitement around the freshmen backs and the experience from the veteran transfer in the room could make it difficult to get on the field this season.
Newcomers
Simeon Price has bounced around the country during his collegiate career, making stops at Mississippi State, Coastal Carolina and Colorado before transferring for his final season at Oregon. Price hasn't been the feature back in an offense, but he does carry some vital experience that is absent in the room.
Tradarian Ball and Brandon Smith could follow in the footsteps of Hill and Davison as impact playmakers in the backfield in year one. Ball has been locked in with the Ducks for a long time, coming to Eugene as the second-longest-standing commit in the 2026 recruiting class. He was a high-volume receiver out of the backfield in high school, and he thrives in space.
After briefly signing with Arizona and being released from his letter of intent, Smith landed with the Ducks in January and put together a solid spring in Eugene. He combines elite speed with patience in the backfield, and does a great job of running through tackles despite his size. Smith could be a special teams contributor right away, and like Ball, he could grow into a role down the line.
Projected Depth Chart
- Starter: Jordon Davison
- Backup: Dierre Hill Jr.
- Other names to know: Simeon Price, Tradarian Ball, Brandon Smith, Da'Jaun Riggs
To be honest, I expect Davison and Hill to largely split duties in the backfield, and even share the field at times. But when push comes to shove, Davison is probably the back that gets the carries in big moments, regardless of the situation. Oregon likes to run the power between the tackles in a power or counter scheme, and Davison was the name the Ducks called for those runs last season when Whittington was off the field.
Hill will handle more of the passing opportunities, especially if he truly has improved in protection. Davison's ability to be a bruiser and battle through contact is something that has been embedded in Oregon's DNA when it comes to running the football in the past decade, and Davison fits the bill. I don't think he will be a bell-cow back and handle 20 or more carries per game regularly, simply because there is too much talent in the room to do so. Davison and Hill will feature heavily together.
Biggest Questions Entering Fall Camp
Who will be the No. 3 running back on the depth chart?
The big question will be who takes the third spot on the depth chart. For now, I think Price has the inside track, thanks to his experience and a strong showing in the spring. That could change at any time, with Ball proving to be a dynamic receiving back, but Price is a safe bet to take some carries early in the season. Smith's electric speed could play a factor as well, and he has some great contact balance to run between the tackles as well.
How will Dierre Hill Jr. be featured?
Even though Davison is a tremendous talent, and the pair could easily split carries next season, there has to be a way to get Hill involved in more creative ways. Hill has been working to improve himself in pass protection, which could allow the Ducks to freely get him involved in different looks, rather than giving away their hand by having Davison in the backfield on passing downs.
Hill also saw some time as a punt returner in the spring game, and the results weren't always pretty. Still, I think Hill's speed and vision for the field can be useful on special teams and another great way to get him the ball. The question is whether or not the Ducks can get Hill on the field and get him touches without being too predictable.
Player to Watch
Tradarian Ball
Besides Davison and Hill, the highest upside player in the room is Tradarian Ball. He reminds me a ton of former Duck Byron Marshall, who was a hybrid receiver and running back, often making plays in the passing game while lined up in the backfield. While he can play between the tackles, Ball could thrive in a role similar to Hill, using his speed to beat defenders on the edges on outside zone runs.
Playing time is available if he has a solid fall camp, given the unknowns around him in the room with Riggs, Price (coming off a serious knee injury last season) and Smith. Ball is a higher-rated recruit than Davison and Hill as well, so there are some high expectations. In a crowded room, Ball could very easily and quickly rise toward the top and become a regular.
Final Outlook and Position Grade
Oregon has five guys in the room who could be starters at other schools, even within the Big Ten. Davison and Hill are the features after combining for an awesome 2025 season as freshmen. Price is most likely to start the season as the third running back, offering a change of pace. Ball and Smith offer tremendous speed and agility, while Riggs is a seasoned vet within the system.
Overall, Oregon's depth in the running back room appears to be in great shape, and there shouldn't be a repeat of the transfer portal fiasco heading into the playoff that the Ducks experienced last season because there are so many young faces in the room.
The spring game did raise some concerns about the group's ability to play between the tackles, especially given the rebuilding state of the offensive line, but the spring game results should always be taken with a grain of salt. The depth of the room has improved, and the overall talent appears to be far greater as well, with potential for plenty of playing time to go around to keep Davison and Hill fresh for the end of the season.
Overall Oregon Ducks Running Backs Grade: A-
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks RB Preview: Davison, Hill set to split backfield