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Oregon Ducks Football: Jordan James emerges among top running backs in PFF rankings

Ahead of the 2024 Oregon football season, Ducks running back Jordan James is getting some impressive recognition from PFF's rankings.

By Ethan Lee

Oregon White Team running back Jordan James looks for a gap under cover from defensive back Kobe Savage during the Oregon Ducks’ Spring Game Saturday, April 27. 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
Oregon White Team running back Jordan James looks for a gap under cover from defensive back Kobe Savage during the Oregon Ducks’ Spring Game Saturday, April 27. 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA
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As Oregon football fans continue to get ready for the 2024 Oregon football season, it certainly sounds like they’re going to have a pretty exciting offense to watch this year. Dan Lanning’s Ducks have been a ton of fun to keep up with over the past few seasons, but this year, with the offense that has been constructed, could be thrilling. Oregon's Jordan James is a huge reason for that.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), James is among the top running backs in several notable categories. And, because this is PFF, that’s going to matter to the folks making NFL Draft decisions.

In PFF’s recent analysis, they highlighted James as a standout performer in “rushing grade behind man/gap blocking schemes.” As noted by Trevor Sikkema of PFF, James apparently "finished the 2023 campaign with a 92.8 rushing grade behind man/gap blocking schemes, which was the best mark of the 2025 running back group." 

Oregon football: Jordan James stands out among top running backs, according to PFF rankings 

But that’s not the only area that James thrives in. James was listed as a runner up in the following categories: wins above average, forced missed tackle per attempt, and rushing grade behind zone blocking. 

All things considered, that’s pretty good. 

James is heading into the 2024 Oregon football season with a chance to truly thrive as he takes over for Bucky Irving. As the PFF analysis suggests, it seems as if James is more than prepared to take over as the featured back in Oregon's high-powered offense. 

Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein has a wealth of talent to work with and that should make this offense truly click. Because guys like Dillon Gabriel at quarterback and Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart at wide receiver should be able to make things a bit easier for James. With a dynamic passing game, defenses can’t just load the box to try and stop James. 

That’ll be a lot of fun for Oregon Ducks fans to watch.

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