Young Oregon Ducks running backs Davison, Hill ready to lead in 2026

Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. burst onto the scene last fall when the then-freshmen running back duo injected a thrilling, big-play, nose-for-the-end zone element to an already-potent Oregon offense.

They combined to rush for 1,323 yards – split almost evenly – and 20 rushing touchdowns, with Davison accounting for a team-leading 15 of those scores.

So, it was revealing to hear running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples claim all that production came from a pair of players who “really didn’t know what they were doing” as they navigated their first season on a College Football Playoff championship contender.

That won’t be the case this coming season when Davison and Hill are expected to be the two main components of the Ducks’ rushing attack.

“They’re going through the maturation process. They’re growing,” Samples said April 2 after Oregon’s fourth practice of the spring. “They have to understand who they are as players, understand their strengths and weaknesses.

“They were operating off pure talent last year. They’ve gotten in the film room more, they understand the game conceptually, what we’re trying to accomplish. … They should be key parts of not just the backfield, but the offense.”

Davison’s role as a freshman evolved from being a short-yardage, goal-line bulldozer in the first half of the season when the 6-foot, 236-pounder started exhibiting an ability to break off long runs. He finished with 667 yards on 113 carries in 14 games. He missed the CFP semifinal Peach Bowl loss to Indiana with a broken clavicle.

“The ceiling is really high,” Samples said. “Obviously he’s a big guy by nature. He carries weight so easily, he’s so physical.”

Hill (5-11, 205) showed electric play-making ability throughout the season. He finished with 656 yards rushing on 75 carries and also caught 16 passes for 137 yards and a score. He led the Big Ten Conference and ranked second nationally with an average of 8.75 yards per carry, was tied for sixth in the Big Ten with eight rushes of 20-plus yards, tied for fourth in the Big Ten with three rushes of 50-plus yards and tied for the conference lead with two runs of 60-plus yards.

“He’s made an outstanding jump in pass (protection), understanding defense,” Samples said. “I mean, he’s even surprised me. … He’s taken a huge leap.”

Samples said one of the goals for Davison this offseason is improving his ability to elude tacklers once he breaks through the line of scrimmage.

“He’s already physically imposing so you don’t want to tackle that guy,” Samples said. “But if he can make guys miss at the second level, if he can make guys miss on the perimeter, it’s gonna be scary.”

It’s the opposite offseason approach for Hill.

“Dierre can do some things on the perimeter like nobody can,” Samples said. “In between the tackles, if he can continue to take his play to the next level, those guys have a chance to be like some of the best backs in the country.”

Oregon’s running back room had significant turnover after the Ducks ended the 2025 regular season.

Starter Noah Whittington graduated, and Jay Harris (Kansas State), Jayden Limar (Washington) and Makhi Hughes (Houston) transferred.

Besides sophomores Davison and Hill, the Ducks roster includes third-year back Da’Jaun Riggs, who played in five games last fall before an undisclosed injury ended his season; a pair of four-star freshmen in Tradarian Ball and Brandon Smith; and Colorado transfer Simeon Price, a six-year veteran who has played in 38 career games – two more then the rest of the group combined.

“He’s a seasoned vet,” Samples said of Price. “He’s a grown man. He goes about his business; he plays the game hard. He’s in the film room every single day. He’s probably up there already watching practice. He’s stretching, he’s encouraging guys to do yoga and drink beet juice. He brings some consistency to the room and he has some ability also.”

Off the field, Whittington was the undisputed leader of the group last season, and his departure leaves a void Sample said will most likely be filled by the group, not any one individual.

“The honest truth is, whenever you lose a guy like Noah Whittington, you can’t replace that, right?” Samples said. “So, first is being honest about that. … but the young guys have grown up. I mean, Dierre has grown up. He speaks more. Jordon has grown up. Those guys didn’t say a word last year. They were just happy to play football.”

More is anticipated from both this season, if not expected. Samples said both are putting in the effort to make those expectations a reality.

“Those guys haven’t arrived yet, but they’re working towards it,” the coach said. “They understand that. And you know, they take that challenge every single day. They don’t act like guys that think they’ve arrived. They’re working every single day.”

Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him at chansen@registerguard.com.