Oregon May Rely on Freshman RB After Noah Whittington's Departure

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Oregon May Rely on Freshman RB After Noah Whittington's Departure

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated May 5, 2026 11:18 AM ET

The Oregon Ducks ' offense will look different in 2026 following the departure of running back Noah Whittington. After using all of his eligibility, he signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent.

The expectation is that Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. will get a bulk of the carries this upcoming season. Last year, the two combined for 1,323 yards and 20 touchdowns. Davison accounted for 15 of the touchdowns.

However, they likely won't be the only running backs fighting for carries. On3's Pete Nakos reported that true freshman Brandon Smith has begun to make some noise during the offseason.

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning.Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"Former four-star Brandon Smith has turned some heads in spring ball and could be a contributor as a true freshman; the Ducks flipped him from Arizona late in the process," Nakos wrote.

Coming out of high school in the 2026 cycle, Rivals Industry Rankings listed him as a four-star recruit, the No. 19 running back and the No. 283 player in the nation. He chose Oregon while holding offers from the Utah Utes, California Golden Bears and Arizona Wildcats.

He put together an impressive senior season at Central East High School. Smith rushed for 2,189 yards and 32 touchdowns on 255 carries. He also showed versatility, racking up 25 receptions for 385 yards and five touchdowns.

The Ducks haven't been afraid to utilize true freshmen in the past. Last season, wide receiver Dakorien Moore was a key piece to the offense with the fifth-most receiving yards (497) on the team.

As Oregon's backfield continues to shift heading into the 2026 season, there's an opportunity for Smith to make an impact in his first year in Eugene.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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