The 2024 recruiting class is now the main focus across the country as recruits work on lining up visits for when the dead period ends in March.
We recently took a look at some of the top quarterback targets for the Oregon Ducks in 2024, and today we're examining the running back position.
Oregon running backs coach Carlos Locklyn inked two great backs in 2023 in Dante Dowdell from Mississippi and Jayden Limar from Washington. Both of those players are already enrolled at the University of Oregon and Locklyn has turned his attention to 2024.
Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington both return in 2023 but could declare for the NFL Draft after next season, which means Oregon could potentially sign another pair of backs in 2024.
Here are five names to know at running back as the Ducks work on adding future ballcarriers.
LAST UPDATED: Feb. 21, 2022
Nate Frazier (Santa Ana, WA)
Nate Frazier is one of the most versatile backs you'll find in the country. I had a chance to see him play in person multiple times last season and he consistently impacted the game as a powerful yet shifty runner, and a pass catcher out of the backfield.
He's only beginning to scratch the surface of his full potential, as evidenced by an explosion on the recruiting trail since the turn of the new year. Alabama, Michigan State and Texas A&M are just a few of the notable schools that have offered him in January.
He's been to Eugene numerous times and already has a great relationship with Locklyn so he's definitely a player worth watching.
Jason Brown Jr. (Seattle, WA)
Jason Brown is arguably the biggest name to know out of the Pacific Northwest this recruiting cycle. If it's not him it might just be his teammate Isendre Ahfua, a towering offensive lineman that has offers from coast-to-coast.
Brown is familiar with the Oregon program after numerous trips to Eugene along with his 7on7 program FSP (Ford Sports Performance). He visited the Ducks in January which probably only helped strengthen their standing, but they'll have to battle blue blood programs like Alabama, Georgia and Penn State to land the highly-coveted back.
James Peoples (San Antonio, TX)
Peoples is one of the best backs in the country and placed Oregon in his final six schools on Feb. 9.
The Ducks are battling Alabama, Ohio State, TCU, Texas and Oklahoma for the talented Texas back. He's never been to Eugene but has had encouraging conversations with Carlos Locklyn.
Locklyn as well as Will Stein, who joined Oregon from UTSA, should play big roles in this recruitment. There are numerous Texas ties on the staff and roster after the team signed six recruits from the state in 2023.
Peopels has a multi-day visit to Ohio State scheduled for the spring and a trip to Eugene will help the Ducks get a feel for where they really stand among his finalists.
READ MORE: Oregon continues push into Texas after James Peoples
Da'Juan Riggs (Washington, D.C.)
Riggs doesn't have quite the recruiting profile of some of the other backs listed here, but schools like Oregon and Ole Miss highlight his 12 reported scholarship offers.
He has the hard running style that's become a signature of backs Locklyn has coached and he was plenty productive as a junior, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards. Riggs plays for St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C., where the Ducks signed 2023 defensive back Collin Gill, so there's already some familiarity and recruiting momentum there.
The first-team all-conference running back took a visit to Rutgers in January.
Cameron Jones (Bellflower, CA)
Jones is an intriguing option for the Ducks in 2024. He has very high interest in the Ducks after playing with his high school at Autzen Stadium last season.
He took a trip to Eugene in January and continues to speak highly of Locklyn and the football program.
Similar to Frazier, he too has seen his stock rise on the recruiting trail in the new year, with offers from Michigan State, Texas A&M and UCLA coming in. Jones has a style and build that could remind Duck fans of Dowdell at 6'2", 220 pounds.
He's one of the best running backs in the Trinity League, one of the toughest high school football leagues in the country.
READ MORE: The latest in Cameron Jones' booming recruitment
Other names to watch: Christian Clark (AZ), Xai'Shaun Edwards (TX), Ca'lil Valentine (AZ), Taylor Tatum (TX)
Join the Community
Follow Max on Twitter: @mtorressports
