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Stable Of Backs Ready To Step Up
12/14/17 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Senior Royce Freeman will sit out the Las Vegas Bowl as he eyes the NFL draft, giving his talented backups a chance to shine Saturday against Boise State.
LAS VEGAS — Royce Freeman's prolific career statistics at Oregon won't be padded any further, with the senior running back opting to sit out Saturday's Las Vegas Bowl in order to remain healthy for next spring's NFL draft.
UO head coach Mario Cristobal announced Freeman's decision Thursday prior to the Ducks' walk-through for Saturday's Las Vegas Bowl against Boise State. Freeman has practiced for the bowl but will not participate against the Broncos.
"Am I disappointed in him? No," Cristobal said. "Do I want to see him play? Absolutely. But I stand by him."
Freeman finished his career at Oregon with 5,621 rushing yards, 6,435 all-purpose yards, 64 total touchdowns and 60 rushing touchdowns, all the most in UO history. He ranks second in Pac-12 history and sixth in FBS history for career rushing yards, and 10th in FBS history for rushing touchdowns.
Draft projections peg Freeman as a second-day pick, with the chance to improve his stock by shining at the Senior Bowl.
"He's done a lot in four years, had a lot of carries," UO running backs coach Donte Pimpleton said. "One game I don't think is going to make or break anything. I want to see him shine at the next level, and be healthy enough to do so."
The Pac-12's offensive freshman of the year in 2014, Freeman went on to set the UO single-season rushing record of 1,836 yards as a sophomore in 2015. He had an injury marred junior season and opted to stay in school as a senior, and was rewarded with 1,475 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
Cristobal and Freeman had ongoing conversations about whether he'd play, with Freeman ultimately making the decision.
"He's been here all week, and he'll be there on the sideline as well," senior running back Kani Benoit said. "I'll miss him, but I understand the opportunity he has."
Benoit now has an opportunity as well, to take advantage of more work in Freeman's absence. Benoit and junior Tony Brooks-James have extensive experience for the Ducks, and freshman Darrian Felix has shown flashes of greatness in limited opportunities this fall.
"I've always said they're all capable of being a starter," Pimpleton said. "Royce is a difference-maker, but those guys are plenty able. They'll go in there and do a great job."
Benoit ran for 100 yards at Nebraska in 2016, a game in which Freeman was limited due to injury. Freeman again was banged up early in a game this season, against California in late September, and Benoit came off the bench to run for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Benoit capped the regular season with 122 yards in the Civil War.
"I don't think it will be anything new to me; this is a game I've been playing since I was a kid," Benoit said. "It's just more opportunities I'll be given, and I want to take advantage."
UO head coach Mario Cristobal announced Freeman's decision Thursday prior to the Ducks' walk-through for Saturday's Las Vegas Bowl against Boise State. Freeman has practiced for the bowl but will not participate against the Broncos.
"Am I disappointed in him? No," Cristobal said. "Do I want to see him play? Absolutely. But I stand by him."
Freeman finished his career at Oregon with 5,621 rushing yards, 6,435 all-purpose yards, 64 total touchdowns and 60 rushing touchdowns, all the most in UO history. He ranks second in Pac-12 history and sixth in FBS history for career rushing yards, and 10th in FBS history for rushing touchdowns.
Draft projections peg Freeman as a second-day pick, with the chance to improve his stock by shining at the Senior Bowl.
"He's done a lot in four years, had a lot of carries," UO running backs coach Donte Pimpleton said. "One game I don't think is going to make or break anything. I want to see him shine at the next level, and be healthy enough to do so."
The Pac-12's offensive freshman of the year in 2014, Freeman went on to set the UO single-season rushing record of 1,836 yards as a sophomore in 2015. He had an injury marred junior season and opted to stay in school as a senior, and was rewarded with 1,475 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
Cristobal and Freeman had ongoing conversations about whether he'd play, with Freeman ultimately making the decision.
"He's been here all week, and he'll be there on the sideline as well," senior running back Kani Benoit said. "I'll miss him, but I understand the opportunity he has."
Benoit now has an opportunity as well, to take advantage of more work in Freeman's absence. Benoit and junior Tony Brooks-James have extensive experience for the Ducks, and freshman Darrian Felix has shown flashes of greatness in limited opportunities this fall.
"I've always said they're all capable of being a starter," Pimpleton said. "Royce is a difference-maker, but those guys are plenty able. They'll go in there and do a great job."
Benoit ran for 100 yards at Nebraska in 2016, a game in which Freeman was limited due to injury. Freeman again was banged up early in a game this season, against California in late September, and Benoit came off the bench to run for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Benoit capped the regular season with 122 yards in the Civil War.
"I don't think it will be anything new to me; this is a game I've been playing since I was a kid," Benoit said. "It's just more opportunities I'll be given, and I want to take advantage."
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