LaMichael James: Life at Oregon Ducks in 2012 Without Him

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Goodbye LaMichael James.  It's unanimous: we will all miss you, but everyone wishes you well in the NFL. 

Because this is the very nature of college football—new players coming every year and familiar players leaving to begin the next chapter of their lives—we now look ahead to 2012 and how LaMichael's departure will impact the Oregon Ducks' upcoming season.

How will the Ducks replace James' prolific output at the running back position?  Will the Ducks win a fourth consecutive Pac-12 championship?  Will they make another run at The Natty?  Let's take a look. 

Who Will Replace LaMichael James at Running Back?

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Let me be the first Ducks fan to officially beg: "Please, Kenjon Barner, stay at Oregon for your senior year." 

This is your chance to come out from behind the shadow of your good buddy James and show the nation how truly accomplished you are.  Think how much fun it would be to be the starting RB on an Oregon team that finds its way back to the BCS National Championship game. 

We believe in your skills and your smarts, and urge you to stick around.  Your 6.2 yards per carry in 2011 would make opposing college coaches drool over the prospect of you as their lead back.  We think as Oregon's lead back in 2012 you can improve even more. 

Help your team and help your chances in next year's NFL draft--stay with the Ducks. 

If Barner does opt for the NFL, what then? 

Sensational Sophomores

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De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon's leading receiver in 2011, also carried the ball 55 times for 598 yards and seven touchdowns.  Even if you aren't good at math, you can figure his yards per carry at 10.8. 

After his gaudy 77.5 rushing average in the Rose Bowl (on two carries), Coach Chip Kelly joked that he would try to get the speedster more carries next year.  Good idea, coach.

Another sophomore, Tra Carson, had flashes of brilliance during 2011, but doesn't appear capable of filling James' shoes, especially in the quickness department.  But Carson should contribute in 2012 and may even surprise people.

Who else is waiting in the wings?

New Recruit Is Scary Fast

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Oregon's running back coach, Gary Campbell, has recruited Byron Marshall, a 4-star recruit out of San Jose, Calif.  Marshall committed to Oregon in November, 2011.

On paper and on film, this kid looks terrific.  He runs the 40 in 4.38, which makes him almost as fast as you-know-who.  In addition, he has good wide receiver skills.  Rivals.com ranks Marshall as the nation's No. 7 running back prospect. 

Whether he is as good as advertised won't be determined until he arrives on the Oregon campus, but many Ducks fans are salivating over this kid. 

One more thought on the running back issue: it's not impossible to imagine that the Ducks might add a JC running back to insure depth at the position. 

Everything Else

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LaMichael James is, of course, one talented player on a very talented team.  Even with his departure, the Oregon Ducks have a lot going for them in 2012.

The most encouraging stat as we wrap up this football season is that the Ducks are losing only 11 scholarship players off the 2011 roster of 110 players.  Granted, some of those seniors were key to Oregon's success this year, specifically Mark Asper, David Paulson, Eddie Pleasant, Dewitt Stuckey, Lavasier Tuinei, Terrell Turner and Darrion Weems. 

There is a lot of returning talent on this team.  A majority of the team will know what it feels like to win the Rose Bowl and be a top BCS team.  Many will remember what it felt like to be "this close" to a BCS National Championship title.  That institutional knowledge is very important and not to be overlooked as a factor in continuing success.

In addition to a wealth of returning talent and exciting new additions, the Ducks have a soft non-conference schedule.  More on that later in the month.

Throw in four new head coaches in the Pac-12 and the upheaval/learning curve that might mean, and who would bet against the Ducks to repeat as conference champions?

Oh, yeah, maybe those guys in cardinal and gold with that stupid white horse.

Goodbye LaMichael James

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The comparisons are already starting.  Is LaMichael James the best player to ever wear an Oregon uniform?  In the coming days you will hear names like Fouts, Rashad, Van Brocklin, Renfro, Wilcox, Harrington and so on bandied about.  I never cared much for comparisons, believing instead that each great player brings his own brand of greatness to the game of football.

Would he have won the Heisman Trophy if he stayed for his senior season?  Maybe.  But the Heisman race is too persnickety to even begin to predict.  If you picked RG3 to win it last year at this time, my hat is off to you. 

All I can say is that it's been pure joy watching LaMichael compete for the Ducks.  We will miss him, but he will be replaced and the Ducks will go on in 2012.