Assessing where things stand for the Oregon football team entering the start of preseason camp July 31.

RUNNING BACK

Who's back: How's this for unlikely? The Ducks return their 2016 offensive MVP at running back … and also Royce Freeman . An injury marred season for Oregon's single-season rushing record-holder opened the door for backup Tony Brooks-James to earn offensive player of the year honors in a vote of his teammates at the end of last season. It also helped compel Freeman to remain in school for his senior season rather than test the NFL draft water. After his UO record 1,836 yards as a sophomore in 2015, Freeman followed up with a relatively pedestrian 945 as a junior. A recruiting pitch from new head coach Willie Taggart in December convinced Freeman to play one more season in college, and he seems to have been highly motivated to make use of this offseason:

We're coming! Don't believe me just watch! Proud of @rolls_royce21 for making every day and rep count. Capped off summer training with 600! pic.twitter.com/f9tPQIckPr — Joey Carnes (@CoachCarnes45) July 19, 2017

That's one smooth back squat, and Freeman was apparently ready and willing to go heavier, until being convinced by the UO strength staff that 600 pounds was quite sufficient. Brooks-James also returns, after a breakout season in which he used his sprinter's speed to rush for 771 yards. He had 120 against Colorado and 132 in a win over Arizona State, looking very much like a capable every down back when called upon. Kani Benoit also made the most of some opportunities with Freeman dinged up, rushing for 100 yards at Nebraska. He's a slippery runner with good balance, making Benoit tough to get a hand on despite weighing in around 210 pounds. A wild card entering preseason camp is junior Taj Griffin , an electric talent with dynamic change-of-direction ability who suffered a major knee injury last November and was very limited in spring practice.

Who's new: The Ducks will open camp with three more dynamic athletes at running back, all coming in slightly different packages. CJ Verdell (5-foot-9, 195 pounds) will call to mind all-time UO leading rusher LaMichael James with his stature and speed. Darrian Felix (5-11, 194) is taller but no less electric, while Cyrus Habibi-Likio (6-1, 211) is a jumbo athlete with the size of a safety or outside linebacker. That's a lot of talent in reserve, but most of these guys could line up at multiple positions to take advantage of the depth.

ROB'S TAKE

Projected depth chart

RB: Royce Freeman , Sr.; Tony Brooks-James , Jr.; Kani Benoit , Sr.; Taj Griffin , Jr.; Darrian Felix , Fr.; Cyrus Habibi-Likio , Fr.; CJ Verdell , Fr.