BREAKING: CJ Verdell opts to stay in 2022 NFL draft. pic.twitter.com/8M737WievV
— Zachary Neel (@zacharycneel) January 24, 2022
One of the best running backs in Oregon Ducks history has announced that he will forego the final year of his college eligibility and enter the 2022 NFL draft.
Verdell, who had a blistering start to the 2021 Oregon season, unfortunately, was forced to sit for the final half of the year due to a leg injury that took place in Week 5 against the Stanford Cardinal. He will finish his career as a Duck with 2,920 career rushing yards and 30 total touchdowns. On the all-time career rushing list for Oregon, Verdell currently sits at No. 6, behind Travis Dye, Derek Loville, Kenjon Barner, LaMichael James, and Royce Freeman.
Maybe the highlight of Verdell’s career came this past season in Week 2 against Ohio State, where Verdell was the player of the game with 161 yards and 3 total touchdowns in the upset win over the Buckeyes. The best game of Verdell’s career came in 2019 against Washington State, where CJ had 257 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.
Because of his injury in 2021, it is hard to predict where Verdell’s draft value currently stands, though he was projected to be one of the top backs off the board when healthy. We will keep an eye on his draft value over the next few months as the draft in April draws near.
The news of Verdejo leaving may be tough for some fans to swallow, especially after former Oregon RB Travis Dye announced his transfer to the USC Trojans last week. The depth at the position will be thin for the Ducks in 2022, but with young and promising players like Bryon Cardwell, Seven McGee, and Sean Dollars, Oregon should be able to make it through.
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