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Bucky Irving has a future in the NFL. But why would one want to play running back these days?
EUGENE — In a time not so long ago, Bucky Irving might be the star of the Oregon Ducks.
But of course, quarterbacks — not running backs — rule the game now, and one doesn’t have to look further than Heisman Trophy voting, where the top six spots were occupied by signal callers in 2022. A running back hasn’t won the trophy since Derrick Henry in 2015, and discussion of the position’s demise has hit a high-note in the NFL.
Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott and their seven combined Pro Bowls are teamless. Saquon Barkley — regarded as one of the best running backs in the game — is playing on a one-year deal after nine months of negotiations with New York. Jonathan Taylor wants out of Indianapolis.
Then came this quote from Baltimore’s Melvin Gordon to The Baltimore Banner’s Kyle Goon.
“If you’re thinking about playing running back, think twice,” Gordon said. “Unless you really, truly feel like God put you on this planet to run the ball, if you’re athletic enough to switch positions, I’d do so in a heartbeat.”
Don’t pretend those words are going unheard amongst the kids.
I figured I’d ask Dan Lanning at Monday’s media day where he sees the position going. He, after all, spearheaded a top 10 class for the Ducks in the 2023 signing class and his program has invested significant resources into being in front of the next wave.
Are top athletes still going to want to carry the rock?
“I think so because they like touching the ball,” Lanning said. “That probably starts in little league. You want to score touchdowns so you like to be the running back and you play for the love of the game. … We have a great running back group. This conference has a lot of great running backs in it as well. But I think you’ll keep seeing guys that want to touch the ball. If you have guys that want to touch the ball, they’re going to want to play running back.”
It’s a theory that seems to hold up amongst the players. Jordan James is a second-year running back for the Ducks — and a pretty good one at that. As a freshman, James averaged 4.1 yards per carry, scored five touchdowns and still found himself fourth on the roster in carries (46) behind Irving (156), Noah Whittington (139) and quarterback Bo Nix (89).
“I just like getting the ball in my hands immediately,” James said. “That’s my favorite part about running back.”
Of course, it’s too early to tell if James’ future includes football beyond college. Irving has the potential. The former Minnesota running back rushed for 1,055 yards in 2022, with his 6.6 yards per carry besting single-season marks by household Oregon names like Royce Freeman, Kenjon Barner and Jonathan Stewart.
Some, like former Oregon running backs coach Gary Campbell, would like to see Irving get more touches in 2023, while Lanning seems to be pretty content in keeping everyone’s legs fresh and distribute carries amongst the room. The days of the bell cow are fading, in college and the pros.
“I feel nowadays you have to be a multifaceted running back — being able to line up in the slot, play special teams, catch the ball out of the backfield,” Irving said. “You just can’t be no dinosaur running back.”
That’s not to say Irving doesn’t enjoy some elements of what the position used to be. Irving first started playing running back as a 5-year-old. And while Oregon fans have seen all the flashes of speed, agility and scoring that make the highlights, Irving said what draws him to the position isn’t exactly as Lanning described.
“We’re in the trenches. It’s tough. You get hit every play,” he said. “You got to come up, get back up and get ready for the next play.”
— Tyson Alger, The I-5 Corridor
