Oregon Ducks are looking more likely to be Makhi Hughes' next program

The Oregon Ducks are most likely going to lose some offensive star power in the backfield after the conclusion of this season. Not only will quarterback Dillon Gabriel reach the end of his collegiate eligibility but running backs Noah Whittington and Jordan James are looking more and more likely to head to the next level.

While the Ducks have a clear succession plan at the quarterback position with former UCLA Bruin Dante Moore acting as Gabriel's backup this season, Oregon doesn't have the same high-level depth at the half-back or full-back position.

However, recently, former Tulane star running back Makhi Hughes entered his name in the transfer portal and, more recently, the Ducks have appeared as the frontrunner to become the RB's future collegiate program.

Hughes, who just completed his sophomore season for the Tulane Green Wave, has had a masterclass first two years of collegiate football.

During the 2023 and 2024 seasons for Tulane, Hughes earned a combined 2,779 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground. The running back also earned 243 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air for the Green Wave.

Hughes' 1,401 rushing yards during the 2024 season more than tripled that of the Green Wave's RB2, Arnold Barnes III, who earned 402 rushing yards and just 6 rushing touchdowns.

Hughes was a three-star prospect coming out of high school in the class of 2022 and was the No. 38 overall running back in the country. He officially entered his name into the transfer portal on Dec. 27, 2024, and has been fairly active on social media in regards to reposting and sharing Oregon Duck news over the last week.

While the winter transfer portal officially closed on Dec. 28, current Oregon players will have until five days after the Ducks' final game of the season to enter the portal or not.

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