Oregon Ducks RB Touted as ‘Breakout Candidate’ for 2024 College Football Season
The Oregon Ducks face a significant challenge in replacing standout running back Bucky Irving, who departed for the NFL Draft earlier this year.
However, the new Big Ten program might not have to search far for his successor in 2024.
Jordan James, entering his third year with the Ducks, was recently highlighted on Pro Football Focus’ list of top-ten breakout candidates for the upcoming college football season.
PFF’s Mitch Kaiser had this to say about the junior back: “Jordan was very good in 2023, so there is a case to be made that he has already ‘broken out,’ but he’ll enter the 2024 campaign as the primary featured back in Oregon’s offense and will get even more opportunities to make a name for himself,” Kaiser said. “He averaged more yards per carry (7.1) [than Irving last season] and put up better marks in every major PFF statistical category.”
As Kaiser suggests, it might be hard to classify James as a ‘breakout’ candidate given his impressive performance in 2023 with the Ducks. He amassed 759 rushing yards on just 107 attempts and added 132 receiving yards on 15 catches, scoring 12 touchdowns, just one shy of Irving’s 13.
James and the Ducks will kick off the regular season at home against Idaho on August 31.
