One of the primary topics of conversation this spring for the Oregon Ducks has been experience. With veteran players like Dillon Gabriel, Jordan James, Terrance Ferguson, Jeffrey Bassa, and Jordan Burch all leaving for the NFL, the Ducks have a young roster going into the 2025 season.
The coaching staff will be quick to tell you how talented said roster is, but it’s no secret that the players are lacking, as defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi puts it, “Oregon experience.”
From incoming transfers to underclassmen, both redshirt and true, the Ducks’ starting lineup will be fraught with players looking to prove themselves this season. One of those players is running back Makhi Hughes, who transferred to Oregon from Tulane this offseason. Going into the year, he is among the most intriguing players on the offense for what he’s put on tape early in his career.
In his two years with the Green Wave, Hughes had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, rushing for 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns. While that production came from outside the Power 4 or Power 5 conferences, it was still enough to show that Hughes can run the ball and succeed.
Going into the 2025 spring season, ESPN recently put out its ranking of the best RBs in the nation, and Hughes was prominently placed. The Ducks’ transfer comes in at No. 4 on the list, behind only Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton, and Penn State’s Kaytron Allen.
“The Tulane transfer ran for 1,401 yards last fall, ninth most nationally and more than any other returning running back. Hughes established himself as an exceptionally productive talent in two seasons with the Green Wave, and he lands at Oregon with two years of eligibility as an ideal replacement for 1,267-yard rusher Jordan James,” wrote ESPN’s Eli Lederman. “Hughes broke out for 1,378 yards on 258 carries as a freshman in 2023 before effectively replicating that rushing season. A key uptick in 2024: Hughes’ rushing touchdown count climbed from seven to 15. His 949 yards after first contact in 2024, per TruMedia, also leads all returning rushers in 2025. As the Ducks break in new quarterback Dante Moore, Hughes’ production and dependability could be especially important.”
While Hughes is thought of highly by the ESPN staff, he will have to contend with a talented RB room in Eugene before being named the official starter. Noah Whittington returned for another season with the Ducks, and other players like Jayden Limar, Da’Jaun Riggs, and Jay Harris are all fighting for carries as well.
If we know anything going into the new season, though, it’s that Oregon has a lot of talent in the backfield, and should feel confident about where things stand.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes and opinions.
#Oregon #Ducks #Makhi #Hughes #top #ESPNs #rankings
