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Oregon Football: 5 reasons why Royce Freeman will win 2017 Heisman

By Zach Bigalke

EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 12: Running back Royce Freeman #21 of the Oregon Ducks runs with the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 12: Running back Royce Freeman #21 of the Oregon Ducks runs with the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

3. The Ducks bring back a more experienced offensive line this year

Royce Freeman was certainly not quite as explosive for most of 2016 as he was prior to his injury. It certainly didn’t help, though, that the Ducks started multiple redshirt freshmen along the offensive line. That was partially due to graduations after 2015, and partially due to injuries to starters early in the season.

The biggest loss was left tackle Tyrell Crosby, who played in just 18 offensive snaps last season as he was eased into the season. An injury early against Nebraska knocked Crosby out for the rest of the 2016 campaign, though, and that forced an already-young offensive line to take up even more responsibility.

Related Story: Oregon Football: 5 bold predictions for 2017

That helps to explain the plummet to 4-8 and the drop in rushing yards for the Ducks. Freeman looked less explosive in part because he had fewer places to explode. No other Oregon rusher put up better marks behind the retooled line, after all. But the growing pains of 2016 could make for a really good offensive line in 2017, especially with three redshirt sophomores returning after starting all 12 games last year.

Crosby is also back for his senior season, another boon for the coaching staff. With former Alabama offensive line coach Mario Cristobal now in Eugene as the team’s co-offensive coordinator, the unit should improve almost immediately. With bigger holes opening up in front of him, Freeman will look as explosive as ever. He might lead the nation in runs of 20 yards or more in 2017 and could top two dozen rushing touchdowns behind this line.

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