Oregon Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Arrion Springs #1 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates the game winning interception during the third overtime against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on October 29, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. Ducks won 61-55. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

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EUGENE, OR – SEPTEMBER 10: Royce Freeman #21 of the Oregon Ducks runs the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers at Autzen Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

Running Backs

Starting running back: Royce Freeman
Backups: Tony Brooks-James/Taj Griffin

The biggest coup of the first offseason in Eugene for Willie Taggart might not have happened on the recruiting trail. Instead, their ability to convince tailback Royce Freeman to remain another year at Oregon was a critical gain for the offense.

Freeman was hampered by injuries last year, and will enter 2017 with question marks about his durability. He was inexplicably not named to the 2017 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list, most likely because he fell off the radar last year. Don’t sleep on Freeman, though, because when healthy he remains among the best running backs in the nation.

Backing up the senior is redshirt junior Tony Brooks-James. Last season, Brooks-James tied Freeman with nine touchdowns on the ground and averaged over 7.6 yards per carry. He provides a strong one-two punch with Freeman. Taj Griffin, who missed time last season to injuries, could either complement Brooks-James or even move to slot receiver.

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