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Oregon football has been ravaged by injuries at running back in the College Football Playoff, which has forced its hand to an unlikely feature back.
The Ducks have deployed redshirt junior running back Jay Harris for most of the first half of their Peach Bowl matchup against No. 1 Indiana. The kicker? Harris is currently in the transfer portal.
The 6-foot-2, 224-pound running back recorded his 10th touch early in the second quarter against the Hoosiers, which matched a career high at the Division I level.
REQUIRED READING: Indiana vs. Oregon score, live updates: Peach Bowl underway in CFP
Noah Whittington, Oregon's leading rusher this season, was on the field for a play in the first quarter but was a game-time decision and is clearly limited. Jordon Davison, the Ducks' second-leading rusher, is out with an injury, and other backups Jayden Limar and Makhi Hughes are in the transfer portal and are away from the team.
That leaves Whittington, true freshman Dierre Hill Jr. and Harris as the lone scholarship running backs technically available in the CFP semifinal. Hill Jr. has been used mostly as a change-of-pace back this season.
Here's what to know of Harris, who's playing a significant role for Oregon vs. Indiana.
Harris, a backup running back at Oregon, was thrust into the lead role for the Ducks against Indiana in the CFP due to numerous injuries.
The second-year Ducks reserve back transferred in 2024 from Division II Northwest Missouri State, where he ran for 1,433 yards with 14 touchdowns as a sophomore. He entered the Peach Bowl with 26 carries for 116 yards with a touchdown this season.
Harris entered the transfer portal on Jan. 7, although Oregon coach Dan Lanning said he'd be available for the CFP despite appearing to leave the school after the season. He was an important running back for the Ducks to keep around, as they moved safety Kilohana Haasenritter and linebacker Brayden Platt to running back in practices for emergency situations.
The fifth-string running back the majority of the year has a chance to become Oregon legend, should he have a big game for the Ducks against the Hoosiers.
Here are Harris' year-by-year stats at Oregon:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Jay Harris? Oregon RB in transfer portal in lead role for CFP
Continue reading...
The Ducks have deployed redshirt junior running back Jay Harris for most of the first half of their Peach Bowl matchup against No. 1 Indiana. The kicker? Harris is currently in the transfer portal.
The 6-foot-2, 224-pound running back recorded his 10th touch early in the second quarter against the Hoosiers, which matched a career high at the Division I level.
REQUIRED READING: Indiana vs. Oregon score, live updates: Peach Bowl underway in CFP
Noah Whittington, Oregon's leading rusher this season, was on the field for a play in the first quarter but was a game-time decision and is clearly limited. Jordon Davison, the Ducks' second-leading rusher, is out with an injury, and other backups Jayden Limar and Makhi Hughes are in the transfer portal and are away from the team.
That leaves Whittington, true freshman Dierre Hill Jr. and Harris as the lone scholarship running backs technically available in the CFP semifinal. Hill Jr. has been used mostly as a change-of-pace back this season.
Here's what to know of Harris, who's playing a significant role for Oregon vs. Indiana.
Who is Jay Harris?
Harris, a backup running back at Oregon, was thrust into the lead role for the Ducks against Indiana in the CFP due to numerous injuries.
The second-year Ducks reserve back transferred in 2024 from Division II Northwest Missouri State, where he ran for 1,433 yards with 14 touchdowns as a sophomore. He entered the Peach Bowl with 26 carries for 116 yards with a touchdown this season.
Harris entered the transfer portal on Jan. 7, although Oregon coach Dan Lanning said he'd be available for the CFP despite appearing to leave the school after the season. He was an important running back for the Ducks to keep around, as they moved safety Kilohana Haasenritter and linebacker Brayden Platt to running back in practices for emergency situations.
The fifth-string running back the majority of the year has a chance to become Oregon legend, should he have a big game for the Ducks against the Hoosiers.
Jay Harris stats
Here are Harris' year-by-year stats at Oregon:
- 2024: 10 carries for 35 yards with a touchdown; one reception for 2 yards
- 2025: 26 carries for 116 yards with a touchdown; three receptions for 57 yards
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Jay Harris? Oregon RB in transfer portal in lead role for CFP
Continue reading...
