Darrian Felix gets a carry during his freshman season at Oregon.

Darrian Felix had one thing on his mind when he stepped onto the turf at Autzen Stadium besides Braxton Burmeister in mop up duty last September: "get positive yards".

Making his collegiate debut against California with his team up 14 with five to go, Felix did just that, falling forward on all five carries including a trip to the end zone from 11 yards out on his fifth and final touch of the team's 45-24 win on Sept. 30.

“It was crazy," he said of his first collegiate touchdown. "Growing up, dreaming about it, and it happened right in front of me. It was amazing.

"I just appreciate the fact that I got to play my freshman year."

With three true freshman running backs on the roster, the Fort Myers (Fla.) native was the only one to see the field in 2017. He finished his first year with 30 carries for 182 yards (6.1 avg.) in eight games.

Now, with the departures of seniors Royce Freeman and Kani Benoit, Felix can push for a much larger role this season. The Ducks have six running backs in spring camp, but only one has been on Oregon's campus more than a year, senior Tony Brooks-James, with the other five — including Felix — still in their first academic year with the Ducks. Felix is joined by redshirt freshmen CJ Verdell and Cyrus Habibi-Likio and early enrollees Jamal Elliott and Travis Dye.

“I think we feed of each other," Felix said of the group. "There’s no negative energy around us. We’re all positive. We all want all of us to do great. Everybody is looking out for each other. That’s the big factor in our room — nobody is selfish."

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Felix' focus this spring is working on his physicality and perfecting the small things, like where to line up, which play is being called and his blocking responsibilities.

To help aid him and his teammates is new running backs coach Jim Mastro. Mastro comes to Eugene by way of Washington State, where he spent six seasons working with Mike Leach. He replaces Donte' Pimpleton, who followed Willie Taggart to Florida State in December.

“Both are good coaches," Felix said of his past and current position coaches. "Coach Mastro is a really good coach. Coach Pimpleton was a really good coach. (Pimpleton) just had to do what he had to do."

Known as a strict disciplinarian, Mastro has already established that identity with the team. One of the core tenants is ball security, Felix says.

“If you put the ball on the ground, you’re going to suffer," Felix said.

Through a handful of spring practices Felix hasn't learned what that might entail, and he's certainly in no hurry to find out.

“He ain’t ever tell us (what suffering means). I’m trying to avoid that," Felix said.

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