Oregon will rely this fall on the collective efforts of running back tandem Royce Freeman and Thomas Tyner, but that won’t keep them from attracting attention as individuals.
On Thursday, each was named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back. LaMichael James won the award following his sensational sophomore season of 2010.
Freeman led the Ducks in rushing as a true freshman in 2014, piling up 1,365 yards and 18 touchdowns on 252 carries. Tyner was third with 586 yards and five touchdowns on 113 carries, and was Oregon’s leading rusher in both the Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff National Championship.