College Football: Top 5 RBs most likely to win 2017 Heisman Trophy

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with tight end Mike Gesicki #88 after making a 7-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with tight end Mike Gesicki #88 after making a 7-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 19: Running back Royce Freeman #21 of the Oregon Ducks rushes to the one yard line while being defended by defensive back Marcus Williams #20 of the Utah Utes in the fourth quarter of the Ducks 30-28 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 19: Running back Royce Freeman #21 of the Oregon Ducks rushes to the one yard line while being defended by defensive back Marcus Williams #20 of the Utah Utes in the fourth quarter of the Ducks 30-28 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

If the Oregon Ducks can get back on the right track in 2017, senior running back Royce Freeman is sure to reap the rewards. Knee injuries kept Freeman’s production down in 2016 from what he had done in 2014 and 2015.

However, Freeman’s career numbers still sit among the best active running backs in college football. Any guy who has 4,148 career rushing yards and 52 total touchdowns deserves recognition with the highest respect.

The talent and proven experience factor bodes well for Freeman compared to the other running backs on this list. Mike Weber and Bo Scarbrough do not have the proven tenure in college football that Freeman has, along with the production level. The rest of what Freeman needs has to come from first-year head coach Willie Taggart and the rest of the Oregon offense.

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Quarterback Justin Herbert looks like the right guy to lead Oregon back to competitive levels in the PAC-12 North. He’ll open up opposing defenses enough for Freeman to have the space to put up big numbers again in 2017.