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The running back duo of Travis Dye and CJ Verdell will represent the Oregon Ducks on the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which is presented annually to the best running back in college football.
Oregon is no stranger to Doak Walker Award buzz, with five semifinalists in the past 10 seasons, including LaMichael James winning the award in 2010.
This is the first watch list appearance for Dye and the third for Verdell, who enters the 2021 season with 2,523 rushing yards after becoming the fifth Duck ever to rush for 1,000 or more yards in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019.
However, it was Dye who led the Ducks in rushing yards during the pandemic shortened 2020 campaign, finishing with 443 rushing yards and 239 receiving yards – the only player in the Pac-12 last year with over 400 rushing and 200 receiving yards.
Oregon’s defense is likely going to be the calling card next season, but surrounding quarterback Anthony Brown with playmakers like Dye and Verdell, not to mention Mycah Pittman and Jaylon Redd, should keep this team squarely in the playoff conversation all year long.
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