He would have been one of the most intriguing running backs in the 2017 NFL draft, but Oregon’s Royce Freeman elected to return to the Ducks for another season after a disappointing 2016 campaign which was hampered by injuries.

A powerful back with great vision, the 5-11, 230-pound California native will be chasing history in Eugene in 2017, as he sits just 936 yards away from the school’s career rushing record, currently held by LaMichael James.

Entering his final collegiate campaign, Freeman spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about why he came back to school, his early impressions of new Oregon head coach Willie Taggart, and why Marcus Mariota can win the NFL MVP award in 2017.

JM: How would you describe your skill-set?

RF: I feel like I can do it all. I have a lot of positive attributes coming out of the running back position. I catch the ball well, I’m a good receiver coming out of the backfield. I do a good job picking up pass protections. I think I can do all the little things that you expect from a running back.

JM: Why did you return for your senior season?

RF: I didn’t have a very good season last year so I felt it was best to come back here to Oregon to improve my game. I was also close to graduating and I ended up getting my degree. I got to finish that off while returning for my senior season. I also get to learn from a new perspective with a different coaching staff this year. I’m just enabling myself to learn more, football-wise.

JM: You dealt with some injuries last season. Where are you now health-wise?

RF: I feel great. Since the end of the season, I’ve just been taking the time to get my body right. I’m taking good care of myself so that I can put my best foot forward this season.

JM: What’s your initial impression of coach Willie Taggart?

RF: He’s a good dude and he really cares about us as individuals, even though he barely knows us. I can see that already. He’s a man of his word. He’s a very genuine guy. He has a lot of passion for what he does. That’s what I think of him so far.

JM: People have so many things to say about making the transition from an offense like Oregon’s to the NFL. How does playing in this system help get you ready for what’s next?

RF: I think it’s just like playing for any other team in the nation. It’s football. Our coaches do a great job of teaching us the game as a whole. We might play in a specific system, but we still have to know football. I feel our staff does the best they can to get us ready.

JM: What are some of the things you hope to improve on during your final season?

RF: I’m working on consistency. You’ll see me running with purpose this season. I want to show that I’m a complete player. I’m hoping to stay injury free, if possible. In the game of football, staying healthy can be a tough task sometimes, but it’s something that I’m aiming to do this season. I want to get better day in, day out during my final year here at Oregon.

JM: What are some of the most important traits a good running back must possess?

RF: Intelligence comes first, in my opinion. You need to be able to pick up all the protections and things of that nature. You need to help protect your quarterback. You need to run hard and be able to pick up those extra yards at the end of a run. I also feel that a good running back has to be able to catch the ball so he can stay on the field for third down.

JM: There’s a new coaching staff for a reason. 4-8 last year, bottom of the Pac-12. Why will this team bounce back this year?

RF: The energy around the building is really positive right now. This football team is hungry, especially after last year’s performance. We have to turn a new tide and put last season behind us. We’re gonna leave everything out there on the field. We all know what happened last year. We can’t dwell on it, though. We just have to learn from it and get better.

JM: Do you have your eye set on LaMichael James’ school rushing record? You’re 936 yards away.

RF: That sounds cool, but not really. I’m just focused on getting ready for our first game right now. I’m gonna give my best effort. After that, we’ll focus on the next game. I don’t really pay attention to how many yards I need or all that. I’m the type of guy who just goes out there and runs hard every play. At the end of the game, I’ll find out what my stats were, but I don’t check that during a game. I’m not a big stats guy.

JM: I want to ask about one of your former teammates. Do you think Marcus Mariota can compete for the MVP this season?

RF: Definitely. Marcus is capable of that. For the brief period that I got to play with him, he’s a one-of-a-kind specimen. He has all the attributes a quarterback could ask for. He’s such an intelligent player. Marcus is gonna do great things. I definitely see him competing for the MVP this season, if not winning it. People put a lot of pressure on him, but he does a great job just focusing on the goal in front of him.

JM: From what I understand, you were a pretty good baseball player. What made you choose football over baseball?

RF: Football is the sport I wanted to play. I enjoy playing it a lot. I don’t know, to be honest. That’s just the way it went. I never gave baseball much thought. I enjoy playing football more.

JM: How would you describe the game-day atmosphere at Autzen Stadium?

RF: It’s crazy. We have fans all over the world. Inside the stadium, it’s green and yellow everywhere. There’s no place I’d rather be. The support we have here is second to none.

JM: What do you think when you see that much green and yellow? What do those colors mean to you?

RF: It speaks volumes of the support we have. Everything we do is green and yellow. All the people that come out here to represent our program are special. That’s something that we as players play for.

JM: Which NFL running backs do you enjoy watching? Do you try and model your game after any in particular?

RF: No, I don’t model my game after any running back. I just thoroughly enjoy watching football. I like learning from all types of different backs. I couldn’t even name anyone in particular. I just enjoy watching the NFL and seeing the different running backs. Of course, you have your top-tier backs that are good enough to start in that league. Those are the ones I enjoy learning from the most. They’ve made it to the highest level and I hope to be there one day myself.

JM: What can fans expect from Royce Freeman and the Ducks in 2017?

RF: They can expect to see a completely different Oregon Ducks football team in 2017. We’re gonna go out there and bring a lot of energy and competitiveness. Oregon has their competitive nature back.

Related Oregon RB Royce Freeman returning for senior season

newsletter Get 10 hot stories each day Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation. Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.