Besides touchdowns, Ra'Shaad Samples wants two things from his running backs

They asked Ra'Shaad Samples what he was looking for from his running backs, and he immediately pointed to two things, consistency and preparation.

"I think consistency is the most important thing. I think you got to play this game at a consistent level, especially when you got a lot of guys in the room with a lot of different skill sets, a lot of different talent and there is a lot of talent in the room. So the mental process is so important," Samples told reporters after practice Wednesday.

There's a lot of talent in the room, with Makhi Hughes, Noah Whittington, Dink Riggs, Jayden Limar and Jay Harris all possessing unique skillsets. Power and speed. Power and slashing ability and speed. Breakaway speed. Size and power. Whatever the individual mix, it adds up to a lot of talent.

True freshman Jordon Davison is 6-0, 236 after summer training and he rushed for 1,233 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior at Mater Dei High School, a top program in Santa Ana, California. In his last high school game, the Illinois 1A State Championship for Althoff High School, Dierre Hill totaled 518 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Despite being fast and gifted, the rookies will have to wait their turn, but they won't wait patiently, which is exactly what Samples wants. "The best situation, you want a bunch of RB1's, right?" he said.

He plans to lean on the depth, balance and versatility in the group rather than relying on one workhorse. "When you've got a group of guys that can wear a defense down, that can come in fresh, that can spell each other. I think that's the best way to do it. I think it's hard when you got to put the carries on one guy, and that's not something we plan on doing."

Samples was asked in turn about every one of them, and in each he found something unique to praise. About Makhi Hughes, the 2,779-yard transfer from Tulane he said,
"I think he's gotten so much more comfortable around his teammates, with the scheme, with what we're gonna do, his personality is starting to come out. You can see him starting to come out of his shell a little bit."

Noah Whittington is nearly two years clear of the devastating knee injury he suffered against Colorado in 2023, and Samples says the junior is displaying more confidence in sticking his foot in the ground and accelerating. "Noah, he broke through the wall last year during the Illinois game," Samples said.

Whittington pounded the Illini for 56 hard yards on 7 carries, including an 18-yard touchdown run he finished by bowling over the safety at the goal line. He followed that up with 77 yards against Maryland, a receiving touchdown at Wisconsin, nine carries for 67 yards in the Washington game, and 15-82 in the Big Ten Championship.

Dink Riggs, Samples says, "has an immense level of talent." The second-year Oregon coach and Duncanville, Texas native praises his pace, feel and understanding of the game.

Jay Harris, the 6-2, 224 2024 transfer from Northwest Missouri State, redshirted last season and enters this year as a redshirt junior. Samples singled him out for his growth, physically and spiritually. "He's more coachable, he's more comfortable, he's more trustworthy. That's a kid for whom the sky's the limit when it comes to talent."

Samples' challenge is that he has seven promising running backs but just 60 minutes a game and one ball, the nicest problem a coach could have. With a new quarterback and an uncertain receiving room, the Ducks should pound the rock. Not exclusively, but with authority.

Dan Lanning wants a physical identity for his team, and that always starts with the running game and defense. The Ducks have the size and strength in the trenches to be bullies.

CBS color analyst Gary Danielson said at Big Ten Media Days,
“I thought they were too much of a finesse team (on offense) last year. I think they can be a better team being a little different. I think they need to be able to pound the ball a little bit more."

Danielson was there when Whittington blasted the Illinois safety for an 18-yard touchdown. Does that look like finesse to you?

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