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De'Anthony Thomas says he's ok with any number of carries at running back. Thomas said he's ready for whatever and just wants to perform for his team.

Oregon's four straight BCS Bowl appearances was possible in part to some of the best rushing performances ever by Oregon running backs. 239 yards rushing by LaMichael James against USC in 2010, 288 yards and three touchdowns by James against Arizona in 2011, and the 321 yards and five touchdowns in 2012 against USC by Kenjon Barner Oregon has had a dominate runner over the years that put up huge numbers.

In 2013 one of the few questions hovering over the Oregon offensive machine is if the Ducks have a running back on roster who can emulate the production and the carries that James and Barner provided since 2009.

Junior running back and potential Heisman candidate De'Anthony Thomas is in the discussion of becoming Oregon's every down back, but questions over his durability and capability to taking the pounding James and Barner received remain murky.

Oregon running back coach Gary Campbell says the plan now is to tweak the carries for Thomas just a tad. How much is that? In 2012 Thomas ran 92 times and an average of seven carries per game. Campbell says he sees it playing out very similar to last year, but with Kenjon Barner being gone the Ducks plan to figure out a way to get Thomas a few extra carries, but again not much more.

"More is more than he did last year," laughed Campbell Wednesday. "15 is more than 10. I can't tell you the exact amount of carries. As the game flows, and we'll pass and run as we feel what the need is. I think he'll just be required to carry the ball more this year."

An exact number of carries is hard to estimate for Campbell but he did say he'd like to limit Thomas' carries to somewhere under 20 game in 2013. The theory is to get the most out of Thomas in the running game and yet still allow him to use his skills out wide at receiver where he caught 45 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns in 2012.

Where does Thomas sit in this debate?

I got a chance to talk to him about this very topic Monday at Oregon media day and asked him what his thoughts were about people wondering if he can be that every down running back that James and Barner were.

His answer?

"It doesn't really matter what people say, and I know what I can do," Thomas said Monday. "When I get the opportunity best believe I'll make plays for my team."

Thomas also said Monday he didn't care one way or the other if he got most of his touches at running back or at receiver.

Instead Thomas had a simple response to his needs and wants in 2013, "It doesn't matter to me though, as long as we are winning games that is all that really matters."