For the 2024 NFL draft, it figures to be a fairly strong year for running backs with the likes of Michigan’s Blake Corum, and Florida State’s Trey Benson — a former Oregon Duck — leading the way.
Among the loaded group is Oregon’s own Bucky Irving, who dramatically helped his draft stock by staying in Eugene for the 2023 season. He was pretty good at Minnesota for the first of his college career, but once Irving stepped on the field as a Duck, his career went upward.
The analytical site PFF.com had to say this about the Oregon tailback.
Irving earned back-to-back 90.0-plus rushing grades to finish his college career, with his 90.8 mark from 2023 good for the third-best mark in the Pac-12. He’s averaged at least 3.9 yards after contact per attempt and forced at least 63 missed tackles in each of the past two seasons. — Trevor Sikkema
PFF ranks Irving as the No. 4 running back available to NFL teams in the draft, which is held in April.
As a Duck, Irving was outstanding. He played in 27 games and carried the ball 342 times for 2,238 yards (6.5 ypg) and 16 touchdowns.
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