Oregon football's assistant head coach and running backs coach, Ra'Shaad Sample, is entering his second season with the team after achieving success in 2024.
With a new season comes a new roster, and the Ducks have a loaded running back room, with multiple players at the position competing for playing time in 2025. Coach Sample has a lot of evaluating to do before Oregon's Week 1 matchup against Montana State on Aug. 30.
Oregon has a new name coming in at running back. Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes, who rushed for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, will compete with returning Ducks players Noah Whittington, Da'Jaun Riggs, and Jayden Limar for running back reps in the upcoming season.
Coach Samples spoke with reporters on Wednesday about the talented running back room and what to expect from the Ducks at the position heading into the season.
"In the best situation you want a bunch of RB1’s... When you 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."
"Luckily, we have a bunch of guys who can carry the ball, who can do some different things and I don’t see that being a thing we do this year. I think we’re gonna have a couple guys that can run the ball," Sample told reporters when asked about playing in a two running back offense, according to Max Torres of On3 Sports.
Whittington was the Ducks' second running back in 2024 behind Jordan James, but after James went on to the NFL Draft, the top spot opened up. This gave the green light to Makhi Hughes to come in and compete for the top spot at one of the best Big Ten schools in college football.