You might be hard-pressed to find a time when the Oregon Ducks didn't have a star running back or two to lead the offense. While the Ducks have some notoriety as a high-flying offense scoring through the air with talented quarterbacks, Dan Lanning's staff has always made the ground game a point of emphasis.

The Ducks saw some big changes to the running back room in the offseason, but the two most important members of the group returned. Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. both had breakout seasons in their first year in Eugene, and now the expectation is that they will take another step in 2026.

CBS Sports' Blake Brockermeyer ranked the top 10 running back rooms around the country, and the Ducks placed third on the list, which is impressive given the room is led by a pair of sophomores. Davison and Hill have very different styles as runners, but their ability to rotate will be huge for Oregon next season to mix up the pace. They amassed over 1,500 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns in 2025.

Davison rushed for 667 yards and a team-high 15 touchdowns, the second-most for an Oregon freshman tailback ever, trailing only Royce Freeman, who scored 18 times in 2014. Running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples recognized his talent as a bruising back immediately and didn't waste any time getting him the ball in short-yardage spots.

"The Ducks return two impressive sophomores in Jordan Davison and future superstar Dierre Hill, who should form an electric duo in the Big Ten," Brockermeyer wrote. "Davison averaged 5.9 yards per touch with 15 rushing touchdowns and offers a nice blend of power, speed, vision and cutback ability."

Hill was the second option, with Noah Whittington providing a similar skill set with more experience. In his freshman season, Hill ran for 656 yards and five touchdowns, handling 38 fewer carries than Davison. Hill turns heads with his lightning speed and agility in the open field. He got some opportunities as a returner in the spring game as well, although the results were a mixed bag.

"Hill has barely scratched the surface of his potential and averaged 8.75 yards per carry," Brockermeyer wrote. "He has home-run speed and excels in Oregon's outside-zone scheme and on jet sweeps for huge gains. Hill also has good power and a nice stiff-arm and projects as a future NFL star."

The Ducks have the best running back room in the Big Ten, according to CBS Sports' rankings. Only Miami and Texas Tech ranked higher than Oregon. USC made the list at No. 5, led by King Miller and Waymond Jordan, while Ohio State placed ninth, with Bo Jackson and Ja'Kobi Jackson leading the charge. Oregon will be tested by both on the road this season.

Beyond Davison and Hill, the Ducks have more talent joining the room this year. Da'Jaun Riggs is back, but the list of newcomers is impressive. Colorado transfer Simeon Price could be leading the race for the third spot on the depth chart, while freshmen Brandon Smith and Tradarian Ball have also made a case for playing time during the spring.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon running back room ranked among nation's best