LaMichael James racked up 1,682 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns during the 2010 football season. Over the winter break, the redshirt sophomore racked up a litany of college football’s highest honors.
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound James became Oregon’s first consensus All-American and finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, the best finish for college football’s most prestigious individual award in school history. James was named the Doak Walker Award recipient for 2010, given to the nation’s best running back, after leading the nation in rushing yards per game (152.9) and points per game (12.0).
Amid those high marks, James was one of seven Ducks named to the All-Pacific-10 Conference first team, the largest contingent of Oregon players to earn all-conference honors in school history. Head coach Chip Kelly has referred to all-conference selections, voted on by fellow Pac-10 coaches, with high praise as an individual accomplishment.
Senior center Jordan Holmes, senior wide receiver Jeff Maehl and junior tight end David Paulson joined James as offensive representatives. Senior cornerback Talmadge Jackson III and senior middle linebacker Casey Matthews made the defensive unit, while sophomore cornerback Cliff Harris was named first-team all-Pac-10 punt returner.
Kelly earned Pac-10 Conference and Associated Press honors for head college football coach of the year, already having received the Eddie Robinson Award and Sporting News Award as national honors. Kelly is 22-3 in two seasons as the Ducks’ head coach.
Six players received All-Pac-10 second-team honors: redshirt sophomore quarterback Darron Thomas, senior offensive lineman Bo Thran, senior defensive tackle Brandon Bair, senior defensive end Kenny Rowe, Harris (as a cornerback) and senior middle linebacker Bryson Littlejohn as a special teams player.
Four more earned honorable mention recognition from the Pac-10: sophomore safety John Boyett, senior defensive tackle Zac Clark, senior wide receiver D.J. Davis and senior outside linebacker Spencer Paysinger.
Harris’ proverbial awards shelf grew more crowded with an All-America nod from the Football Writers’ Association of America. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Harris was selected as a punt returner, where he led the nation with four return touchdowns and ranked second in average yards per return (19.5)
While the various awards add continued credence to Oregon’s presence in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game next week, perhaps the most significant announcement was not an award at all.
James, in a press release on Dec. 30, announced he would forego the NFL and return to Oregon for his junior season in 2011.
“I came to the University of Oregon to get a quality education as well as to play football, and feel I have yet to complete that goal,” he said in the release.
James needs 40 yards rushing in the BCS National Championship game to break Jonathan Stewart’s single-season rushing record (1,722), and 68 more to break Derek Loville’s career record of 3,296.
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