Former Oregon Football Running Back Royce Freeman has shown he can play at the next level and will get his first career start on Saturday.
Royce Freeman was the third round NFL Draft pick earlier this season and the trend of youth at the position finding success at the next level. In the NFL Preseason, Freeman touched the ball 15 times and saw the end zone on three of those rushes, several of them greater than 20 yards. He averaged just over five yards per carry, besting the average of Broncos Running Backs last season that carried collectively just under 5 yards per game for the 2017 season.
The former Oregon Football Running Back showed in his time in Eugene that he can run well North to South and also catch the ball out of the backfield. His strength is in is legs and when he was healthy, he did enough in Eugene to become the Ducks All-Time leader in Rushing, surpassing LaMichael James for the honor in his Senior Season.
Royce Freeman showed that he can see the field well and find holes created by his Offensive Line. The learning curve is different in the NFL, with a more Pro Style and less off a Spread option that he was used to with the Oregon Ducks. He has shown during the Preseason that he has mastered the learning curve and that should pay dividends.
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Freeman along with a fellow Pac-12 Running Back from Utah, Devontae Freeman have spent time battling in the NFL Preseason. Former Colorado Running Back Phillip Lindsay was also in the mix and will see the field this season. Lindsay recently got permission to change jersey numbers to #30, used and retired by Terrell Davis. He spoke with Davis over the phone and Davis decided it was time to un-retire the number.
For the Denver Broncos, their Offensive strength may just be their Running Game in 2018. Freeman has the experience to get them past the .500 mark this season and could help the team make a Playoff push.
The Denver Broncos open the season at home on Sunday hosting the Seattle Seahawks at 1:25 pm Pacific Time.