Assessing where things stand for the Oregon football team entering the start of preseason camp Aug. 8.

RUNNING BACK

Who's back: Four months from now, we might be talking about a new all-time rushing leader in Oregon history. The Ducks' enviable stable of returning backs is headlined by junior Royce Freeman . The nation's fourth-leading rusher with 1,836 yards last season, Freeman needs 1,881 yards as a junior to match the UO career record held by LaMichael James. This summer Freeman was named to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell and Walter Camp Football Foundation national player of the year awards, and also the Doak Walker running back award. One website labeled him college football's most underappreciated star, but those who study the game's analytics definitely recognize his talents. Freeman is a bruising runner with great elusiveness and ample speed. He'll be draft-eligible after the 2016 season, and no doubt will be highly sought by NFL teams should he choose to turn professional.

Freeman's top backups also return to Oregon this fall, including jitterbug Taj Griffin , track star Tony Brooks-James and slippery junior Kani Benoit . Each of the three is a big-play threat every time he touches the ball, particularly against a defense battered and bruised from trying to tackle Freeman. The rest of the depth chart includes walk-ons likely to spend the season imitating opposing backs with the scout team. Jarret LaCoste and Lane Roseberry are tough program veterans from in-state, and Langston Stuckey showed some promise in his initial season with the Ducks last fall.

Who's new: The Ducks didn't sign a running back in this year's recruiting class, although it wouldn't be a surprise to see another walk-on join the fold to bolster the practice rotation.

ESPN's take: Great shape. "Oregon owns an embarrassment of riches at running back, and it will be fun to watch them compete with (Stanford) for the title of "best backfield" in 2016 -- possibly in the nation."

ROB'S TAKE

Projected depth chart

RB: Royce Freeman , Jr.; Taj Griffin , So.; Kani Benoit , Jr.; Tony Brooks-James , So.; Jarret LaCoste , Sr.; Langston Stuckey , RFr.; Lane Roseberry , Sr..