With the starting tailback position wide open, Saturday’s spring game was an opportunity to impress for a trio of Oregon runners competing for the job.
Chris Vincent overcame nerves and a fumble on his first carry to stand out as Oregon’s most productive running back. The 6-foot-1-inch, 218-pound redshirt freshman finished the day with 60 yards on 10 carries and the game’s only rushing touchdown.
“In the beginning, I had the jitters a little bit,” Vincent said. “But I got a couple handoffs, got banged around a little bit and I fell into place.”
Vincent has been in a three-way battle for the starting job with 5-foot -10-inch, 207-pound sophomore Terrence Whitehead and 5-foot-11-inch, 206-pound junior Ryan Shaw over the spring. Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said he was impressed with the quickness shown by Vincent but doesn’t think it was enough to name a starter yet as each member of the trio was solid.
“Chris Vincent showed up today with a step more speed than I had seen in the other scrimmages,” Bellotti said. “I thought all of our running backs showed a burst and also showed tough running skills.”
Whitehead was the first back to see action, entering the game with sophomore quarterback Kellen Clemens. The Ducks went three-and-out on their first series but were able to sustain a drive during Whitehead’s second opportunity. Throughout the offense’s fourth series, during which he broke several tackles to keep the drive alive, Whitehead had a four-yard run on a third-and-two situation. He also had a two-yard carry down to the 10-yard line, setting up Clemens’ first of three touchdown passes.
“It felt real good to help the guys get down there and score,” said Whitehead, who finished the day with 49 yards on 13 carries.
After the offense failed to pick up a first down on its opening series, Shaw got a chance to show what he could do as he entered the game with freshman quarterback Johnny DuRocher. Shaw didn’t disappoint as he took his first handoff and exploded up the left side for an 18-yard gain. Unfortunately for Shaw, this would be his high point of the game as he was held to eight yards on his next nine carries, including a six-yard loss on the game’s final play when he was met in the backfield with a thunderous hit by junior
linebacker Jerry Matson.
Bellotti said he plans to handle the tailback position the same way he is treating the quarterback position, allowing for healthy competition to improve each runner’s focus and determination. Whitehead wasn’t satisfied with his or the team’s performance on the ground, but he said he expects better days.
“We made some good runs overall, but I feel we can run the ball better,” Whitehead said. “I could of run a whole lot better. I still stand in the hunt for a starting position.”
Vincent, on the other hand, knows he helped himself on Saturday but knows it’s all about who’s hot when it comes time for the Ducks’ season opener against Mississippi State. He likened the situation to when Maurice Morris and Onterrio Smith were both at Bellotti’s disposal.
Vincent plans to take his performance and run with it, hoping to improve over the offseason.
“I’m a raw running back right now, I still need a little polishing up,” Vincent said. “But we have all off-season to work on that. My main focus is to get better.”