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As we approach the 2015 College Football Season, teams across the country will be battling for a spot in the second year of the College Football Playoff and the Pac-12 Conference will have their usual group of contenders including USC, UCLA, Stanford and of course, Oregon. Now that Fall Camp has wrapped up it’s time to take a look at the 2015 team.
If you live in Eugene, you know the Ducks, but if you don’t here are several Oregon players you should know or get to know for the upcoming season. Some are already household names, and others can become household names, as well as Heisman Contenders quickly with big performances during the upcoming season. We start at Running Back.
Nov 1, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) runs the ball in the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Royce Freeman, Sophomore Running Back
Entering the 2014 season, with the departure of names like LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner, Freeman was the next generation to step into an Oregon Ducks and he did not disappoint. Freeman was a beast last season rushing for a Freshman Record number of yards and keeping Defenses off balance to allow Quarterback Marcus Mariota time to throw the ball. He enters his second year looking bigger and in Spring Camp appeared stronger. I expect he will be a big part of the Offense this season regardless of who is Quarterback. He will get his carries. With Running Back Thomas Tyner done for the season after shoulder surgery, Freeman may have a bit of an extra load to shoulder.
Freeman can not only run with the ball, but can also catch out of the backfield. I expect the Ducks will use this to their advantage this season. The Sophomore was named as the Starter on the Depth Chart for the season opener against Eastern Washington. Of course, all the games are important but everyone has the week two matchup with Michigan State circled as the biggest game of the year to that point. Will Freeman be able to shine against one of the best Defenses in the Big Ten and the Country? Time will tell.
Next: Byron Marshall