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Pac-12 Football: 3 running backs to watch in 2020

By Clayton Panzeri

BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 27: Running back Jermar Jefferson #22 of the Oregon State Beavers is tackled as he rushes against the Colorado Buffaloes in the third quarter of a game at Folsom Field on October 27, 2018 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 27: Running back Jermar Jefferson #22 of the Oregon State Beavers is tackled as he rushes against the Colorado Buffaloes in the third quarter of a game at Folsom Field on October 27, 2018 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 06: CJ Verdell #7 of the Oregon Ducks breaks free for a 70 yard touchdown run in the middle of the fourth quarter during the Pac-12 Championship football game against the Utah Utes at Levi’s Stadium on December 6, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The Oregon Ducks won 37-15. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 06: CJ Verdell #7 of the Oregon Ducks breaks free for a 70 yard touchdown run in the middle of the fourth quarter during the Pac-12 Championship football game against the Utah Utes at Levi’s Stadium on December 6, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The Oregon Ducks won 37-15. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Pick Analysis. RB. player. 2. 820. Scouting Report. Oregon. CJ Verdell

Don’t blink or you might miss CJ Verdell streaking down the sideline after breaking a few tackles. This kid was everything you want in a running back and more in 2019. A 12-2 season capped off by a Rose Bowl victory for the Ducks really showed the resiliency of a talented group after dropping a few games to start the season.

One big reason this was all possible? Look no further than Verdell. You may be thinking to yourself right now, “The Ducks had Justin Herbert, how could Verdell have done all of this?” That would be a completely fair argument, the counter to this would be the struggles that Herbert had late in the season while Verdell was rushing for over 100 yards a game and keeping the Ducks title chances alive.

Verdell ran for 1,220 yards in 2019 on 200 more yards on five fewer attempts than 2018. His touchdown numbers were down, but that is because the Ducks used different goal-line packages and had a stable of running backs at their disposal inside the red zone.

Now that Herbert isn’t under center for the Ducks, we should see a big increase in touches for the junior running back.

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