ESPN lists biggest position of intrigue for Oregon Ducks in 2026

Coming off of yet another great season in 2025, which featured a deep run in the College Football Playoffs, the Oregon Ducks have high expectations going into the new year, especially with the amount of veteran talent they have returning.

Quarterback Dante Moore will try to make it to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist while trying to lead the Ducks to their first championship in program history. In order to do that, though, the players around him are going to need to step up in a major way.

ESPN took a shot at previewing the Ducks' upcoming season, and they highlighted one position in particular that is going to be the most intriguing to watch over the next couple of months: running back.

A year ago, the Ducks found a couple of diamonds in the rough at the spot, with true freshmen Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. exploding onto the scene, rushing for over 600 yards apiece while combining for 20 total touchdowns. Here's what ESPN had to say about Oregon's RB room this spring:

"The Ducks lost their leading rusher, Noah Whittington (829 yards, six TD), but might have a better backfield next season thanks to the expected development of Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. The talented duo both rushed for over 600 yards as freshmen last season, combining for 20 touchdowns on the ground (Davison 15, Hill 5). As the Ducks experienced in the College Football Playoff, though, this is a position where depth is important, making this spring a key time to build confidence in the players behind them, including Da'Jaun Riggs, who received 28 carries and rushed for 168 yards over the past two seasons in low-pressure situations."

While Oregon feels great about the proven guys in the room, there is also a lot of intrigue surrounding incoming freshman Tradarian Ball, a 4-star player who has been electric at the high school level. They also have incoming transfer Simeon Price, from Colorado, who adds some veteran experience to the room.

It will be tough to see from an outside perspective what the Ducks learn at the RB spot this spring as far as depth and comfort go, but they will undoubtedly need to make some major strides there in the coming weeks.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What is the biggest position of intrigue for Oregon Ducks in 2026?