**Editor’s Note: This story first appeared in the Emerald’s Duck Season magazine, a preview of the Oregon football team’s upcoming season that is currently available for free at all Duck Store locations in Eugene. We will post each story in the days leading up to the first day of fall practice on Aug. 10.

Depth is a common trend across all position groups at Oregon. Still, the running backs might boast the deepest group of all. Led by last year’s leading rusher Royce Freeman — the first freshman in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards — and former five-star recruit Thomas Tyner, Oregon’s backfield will be a key cog in the team’s success. Along with Freeman and Tyner, the Ducks have redshirt sophomore Kani Benoit, who averaged 4.3 yards per carry last season, and track speedster Tony Brooks-James, who wowed coaches in practice over the course of his redshirt season last year.

Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @JoeJHoyt