Top 5 Seniors Entering 2017

4. RB Royce Freeman, Oregon

Last season was a roller coaster for everybody on Oregon’s roster, as made evident by their 4-8 record. After producing nearly 2,000 rushing yards in 2015, running back Royce Freeman ran for roughly half of that production in 2016. Freeman’s junior season didn’t go quite as planned as he missed two games due to a leg injury.

Freeman finished the season with three straight games of 100 rushing yards or more, but before that, the season was largely a struggle for him. He rushed for just 945 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He did rush for 207 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against Virginia early in the season, but against the tougher competition, he didn’t do so well. Freeman ran for more rushing yards in losses, but he also had 30 more carries, which hurt his yard per carry average. On the season, he ran for 5.6 yards per carry. In losses, he ran for 4.9 yards per rushing attempt.

In 2017, Freeman will be under new head coach Willie Taggart, who typically likes gets the ball to the running back in a variety of ways in his offensive system. Just ask South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers or running back Marlon Mack. The duo combined for over 2,100 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns last season. With Justin Herbert back at quarterback, Oregon could be in for something special next season.

Freeman will look to get healthy this offseason and have a better senior year.  He’ll face Southern Utah, Nebraska and a road game at Wyoming out-of-conference in 2017. With a new head coach installing a new system, the rising senior back is ready to have a good season.