30Duck Moderator No. 1 Share Posted February 2 Ranking the Best Oregon Running Backs of All Time - Athlon Sports Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Marsh No. 2 Share Posted February 2 The biggest thing in trying to determine the best backs or any position is it all comes down to the era they're playing in. James and Barner played in the era of the blur and the new uptempo style. Because of that they put up insane stats with that scheme and other teams not adjusting. Does that make them the best? Maybe... Granted, I feel they're probably no. 1 and 2 on my list followed by Freeman. But what about DAT? Statistically he doesn't pop as much as the others but he was a massive game breaker. Maybe no. 4 But now I'm completely bias of that era of Oregon football. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeotechDuck No. 3 Share Posted February 2 Droughns is too low. Dude was an animal. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 4 Share Posted February 2 Rueben Droughns would have KILLED IT in a Spread Offense... The late Jerry Thompson, a great friend I loved as a super Duck-Buddy, and miss, wrote this great FishDuck article about Droughns. 2 1 Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDuck No. 5 Share Posted February 2 Some great names on that memory lane. It would be interesting to see a couple stats on each one. 1) what percent of total offense was their individual rushing yards 2) what percent of total rushing was their individual rushing yards To the degree a RB was carrying the team...vs other running backs or vs passing yards...I think they should get some credit. Having a bunch of yds when the whole offense was explosive may not be as impressive as a guy who was the grinder, the go to? A guy who was a star on a 10-2 team who we all remember because it was 10-2, may not be as much the "best" as a guy on a 8-4 team that had to be the man every game? For example, in 2024, Jeanty had 77.3% of all rushing yds. And, 42% of BSU's total offense (including a few receiving yds he had). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDuck No. 6 Share Posted February 2 Here's an old story about Droughn's early life. Tough situation he was in. A lot of "column white space" so if you open the link just keep scrolling down to get to the end. Maybe what he overcame makes him the best? Reuben Droughns is renewing his vow to stay out of trouble WWW.CLEVELAND.COM David I. Andersen/The Plain DealerReuben Droughns rushes during a Cleveland Browns game against the Detroit Lions. This profile was originally published in The Plain Dealer on Nov. 6... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 7 Share Posted February 2 On 2/1/2025 at 7:59 PM, GeotechDuck said: Droughns is too low. Dude was an animal. Absolutely agree with this, and Ahmad Rashad, (Bobby Moore} from Tacoma, was my first favorite Duck, as a WR, he'd be up on that all time list too. Bucky wasn't around long, but what a mark he left. Forever, the question about Oregon RB's will be, "Can he be another Bucky?" 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartm25 No. 8 Share Posted February 2 I have LaMichael James and Jonathan Stewart as my #1 and #2, respectively. After that, I’d have Barner, DAT, Freeman, and Irving somewhere close by. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 9 Share Posted February 3 Oregon had been blessed with so many great running backs over the years (Gary Campbell was a great coach): Bucky Irving LaMichael James Barner DAT Royce Freeman Jonathan Stewart Onterrio Smith Ruben Droughns Derek Loville Bobby Moore … LMJ is the all time statistical rushing leader but I’m not sure he is the “best.” 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 10 Share Posted February 3 On 2/3/2025 at 8:44 AM, OregonDucks said: LMJ is the all time statistical rushing leader but I'm not sure he is the "best." I agree that stats don't automatically equal Best. But if I put Bucky in the Blur instead of LMJ, I don't see him putting up better stats, I don't see where he's superior to LMJ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 11 Share Posted February 3 On 2/3/2025 at 12:12 PM, 30Duck said: I agree that stats don't automatically equal Best. But if I put Bucky in the Blur instead of LMJ, I don't see him putting up better stats, I don't see where he's superior to LMJ. Sorry for the confusion. My list above wasn’t a ranking. The running back that I would select would be based on the offense I ran. LMJ would probably not be the best fit for a traditional pro style offense (look at his NFL career). Just like Droughns wouldn’t be the best fit for a spread-option offense. If we were looking for the most balanced running back, I’d probably go with J-Stew, Onterrio Smith or Bobby Moore. However, I don’t know how I’d choose one over the others as they all have different strengths. Maybe you give the edge to J-Stew or Bobby Moore because they had the best NFL careers? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 12 Share Posted February 3 On 2/3/2025 at 10:08 AM, OregonDucks said: LMJ would probably not be the best fit for a traditional pro style offense (look at his NFL career LMJ went from Chip's offense to Harbaugh's in the NFL, couldn't be a bigger adjustment, on a different team, who knows? A player's future in the NFL depends so much on where they play. As far as NFL success, how about LeGarrette Blount? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massduck No. 13 Share Posted February 3 Not even a mention of Onterrio Smith? Dude was special. Don’t think he had his head right. Wonder what happened to him after the Whizzinator? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUCati855 Moderator No. 14 Share Posted February 3 I have to agree that LMJ was the best back UO has ever had. That statement is only based on what he did at Oregon. Many have had better pro careers. But, LMJ as a Duck was other world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 15 Share Posted February 3 On 2/3/2025 at 2:35 PM, DUCati855 said: But, LMJ as a Duck was other world. "QB takes the snap, hands it to James, he's through the line, Touchdown, LaMichael James!!" 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 16 Share Posted February 4 On 2/3/2025 at 4:09 PM, Massduck said: Not even a mention of Onterrio Smith? Dude was special. Don’t think he had his head right. Wonder what happened to him after the Whizzinator? I mentioned Onterrio. Dude was special and deserves to be on any list of top Oregon running backs. He signed with the National Champions Tennessee out of high school and then transferred to Oregon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massduck No. 17 Share Posted February 4 Agree. I meant the Athlon sports article did not mention him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJacksPlaidPants Moderator No. 18 Share Posted February 4 The 2008 duo of Jeremiah Johnson and LGB produced over 2200 yards and 30 TD's. It was really their only productive season of their Oregon careers, but it bears mentioning. Both did well in the NFL as well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notalot No. 19 Share Posted February 4 (edited) J-Stew or Mel Renfro. Royce was a beast of a different style and skill. Edited February 4 by Notalot 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 20 Share Posted February 5 On 2/4/2025 at 4:23 PM, Notalot said: Royce was a beast of a different style and skill. I’m shocked that Royce didn’t have a more productive NFL career. He had all of the attributes you’d look for in an NFL running back. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVH69 No. 21 Share Posted February 5 New commentator here. I'm old so I remember further back. To me, this thread significantly underrates Mel Renfro. He's the only person mentioned who's in the NFL Hall of Fame (he played two ways for the Ducks and eventually became a perennial All-Pro defensive back for the Dallas Cowboys back when they were truly America's Team). Renfro was a first string All-American and a fantastic hurdler for the Oregon track team. The first college football game I saw back in 1963, at the old Multnomah Stadium (now the home of the Timbers and the Thorns), was between the Huskies and the Ducks. Huskies won 26-19, as I recall, but before that, I saw Renfro run back a kickoff. He and a Washington player collided head on and literally knocked each other out. I was in the overflow crowd on the sideline (36 thousand people in attendance, largest crowd for an Oregon "home" game up to that time) and the hit took place right in front of me. As a 12-year-old, I was shocked at how hard the players hit each other. It was one whale of a football game, and a great experience for a young boy from Burns, Oregon. Anyway, my point is that Mel Renfro certainly belongs in the top 3. LaMichael James should be number one--only Doak Walker winner in school history--but Renfro is very close to the top. This under-rate reminds me of the time several years ago when I was at Autzen and a few golden oldies were introduced on the field during halftime. Ronnie Lee was there that day. There was hardly any applause when he was announced. I don't think most people knew who he was. Believe me, he was somebody! The epitome of Dick Harter's Kamikaze Kids, one of the greatest basketball players in school history. By the way, did you know that in 1958, Terry Baker (Beaver Heisman winner) and Mel Renfro played in the same backfield for Jefferson High School? Now THAT was an all-star crew! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 22 Share Posted February 5 On 2/5/2025 at 10:42 AM, DVH69 said: New commentator here. I'm old so I remember further back. To me, this thread significantly underrates Mel Renfro. DVH69...now that is fantastic first post. I do welcome you, and would encourage you to post your thoughts often. We are all right about half the time, thus I would love to see all opinions on the many topics. May you add your voice to the forum often! We have had many new people sign up recently and only post once or twice. C'mon! Join the fun, as every opinion here is equal and protected. There are many who have signed up in the past 90 days, and have NOT posted yet! Again...there is no downside because we do not allow personal attacks on other OBD members. We have a great GREEN community here, and I welcome readers to join us! Charles Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 23 Share Posted February 5 On 2/5/2025 at 10:42 AM, DVH69 said: Ronnie Lee was there that day. There was hardly any applause when he was announced. I don't think most people knew who he was. Believe me, he was somebody! The epitome of Dick Harter's Kamikaze Kids, one of the greatest basketball players in school history. Originally, Mel Renfro was going to be a Beaver! At the last minute he changed his mind and did go on to have one of the best careers, on both sides in football and track and field, in Oregon history. Believe me, there would have been NOISE if I had been there, very surprised, SHOCKED, at the lack of recognition, respect coming from the Autzen crowd for Ronnie Lee, throw in unimaginable! "The greatest basketball player in school history!" 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Ducky No. 24 Share Posted February 5 LMJ was definitely a good one, He did take a lot of playing time from Kenyon Barner. If Barner doesn’t take that cheap shot and get injured up at Wazu while returning a punt he might get my nod over James. Both were great backs. Barner did put 300 yard on usuc. Probably my favorite game by a Duck running back af all time. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
