Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Oregon Football: 5 reasons Ducks will beat Boise State in Las Vegas Bowl

By Connor Muldowney

EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks passes the ball as defensive end Jack Banda #92 of the Arizona Wildcats applies pressure during the second half of the game at Autzen Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game 48-28. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks passes the ball as defensive end Jack Banda #92 of the Arizona Wildcats applies pressure during the second half of the game at Autzen Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game 48-28. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
EUGENE, OR – SEPTEMBER 10: Tony Brooks-James #20 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers at Autzen Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – SEPTEMBER 10: Tony Brooks-James #20 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers at Autzen Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

3. Running backs vying for starting time in 2018

With Royce Freeman sitting out of the Las Vegas Bowl, Oregon’s backup running backs will be vying for that starting position in 2018. That might seem like a bad deal for the Ducks, but whenever you have an open position battle, you usually see someone rise to the top and show off.

The early favorite has to be junior Tony Brooks-James who has rushed for 485 yards and two touchdowns on 5.6 yards per carry this season. He has shown the ability to rack up yardage on more carries, putting up over 700 yards on 7.6 yards per touch last season and averaged 9.0 yards per touch as a freshman. He also has the ability to catch the ball.

Brooks-James’ top competition? Freshman running back Darrian Felix. The first-year back from Fort Myers, Fla., rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown on just 30 carries this season and that was after not playing in the first four games. Does he have the most upside? Most likely, but we will see in the Las Vegas Bowl if he’s ready.

Senior Kani Benoit may very well get the start, but there will be plenty of competition going on behind him and we might see an even bigger bump in team rushing yards with Freeman sitting out. That’s good news for the Ducks.

Home/Oregon Ducks