Oregon Ducks Star Switch Operating Again Did not Journey With Crew to Penn State Sport

The No. 6 Oregon Ducks don’t have any scarcity of expertise on this yr’s roster however one notable title has but to succeed in the expectations that he introduced with him to Eugene this previous offseason.

Oregon working again Makhi Hughes, who transferred to this system after two years with the Tulane Green Wave, was anticipated to be the starter this season after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and incomes preseason All-American honors, however he has fallen additional down on the depth chart behind some youthful, less-experienced gamers.

Now, there’s one other chapter within the odd early-season saga surrounding Hughes.

According to James Crepea of The Oregonian, Hughes didn’t journey with No. 6 Oregon to Happy Valley for Saturday’s matchup towards the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions, a recreation that the Ducks received 30-24 in double extra time.

Crepea reported that two walk-on gamers travelled with the 74-man squad allowed for the street recreation as an alternative of Hughes. Other Ducks that did not journey with the crew included the next gamers:

Jahlil Florence, defensive again
Akili Smith Jr., quarterback
Douglas Utu, offensive lineman
Tobi Haastrup, defensive lineman
Demetri Manning, offensive lineman
Devin Brooks, offensive lineman
Zac Stascausky, offensive lineman
Ziyare Addison, offensive lineman
Lipe Moala, offensive lineman
Vander Ploog, tight finish
Xadavien Sims, defensive lineman
Andrew Boyle, kicker

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Without Hughes, Ducks have as an alternative relied on a commit strategy at working again that consists of Noah Whittington, Jayden Limar, Jordan Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. This basically implies that Hughes is the fifth working again on the depth chart, one thing that nobody noticed coming firstly of the season.

Hughes appeared in every of Oregon’s first 4 video games, totaling 17 carries for 70 yards and two catches for twenty-four yards.

But within the win over Penn State, it was Hill Jr. that led the best way with 10 carries for 82 yards whereas Davison added a landing on the bottom.

Some have speculated that Hughes’ lack of enjoying time is because of an incapacity to understand the offense, but it surely’s unclear what precisely has led to his mysterious absence from the offense’s core contributors.

This is shocking to say the least contemplating what he did final season at Tulane when he completed with 265 carries for 1,401 yards and 17 whole touchdowns. This got here after he had 1,378 dashing yards as a freshman the season earlier than in 2023. 

This manufacturing was nothing to scoff at, as Tulane has confirmed itself as one of many high groups in Group of 5 over the previous few seasons. It’s anybody’s guess the place all of it went flawed.

Crepea also reported that Oregon working backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples mentioned earlier this week throughout a radio look that Hughes is “continuing to find his way and grow and learn and find his way in this room” but it surely’s clear he did not do sufficient to journey with the crew.

Before the season began, Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein mentioned that Hughes’ expertise would profit him coming to Eugene. Those phrases have not precisely aged nicely.

“We saw obviously, lots of production. . . . So coming from Tulane, he played against really good competition in that league, has great contact balance, good vision, his ability to catch the ball in the backfield. So he’s carried the ball a lot in college, which is, again, that experience will, to me, give him definitely a benefit coming here,” mentioned Stein.

Regardless of what occurs with Hughes, it is clear that the Ducks are nonetheless a championship contender with out him, evident by the huge win over Penn State.