LaMichael James to the NFL: Kenjon Barner Will Be a Legit Heisman Contender

LaMichael James will be playing his last game as an Oregon Duck next month, and then it's off to the NFL he goes. After three consecutive 1,500-yard seasons, his draft stock really couldn't improve any more.

The main thing that scouts have questions about is his size, and at 5'9", 185 pounds, he's not going to get any bigger. So overall the best move for him was to move on to the next level.

With this move, it does open the door for somebody else. Somebody who was overshadowed by James during his first three seasons at Oregon.

Of course I'm talking about Kenjon Barner.

He will be entering his senior season next year and coming off his best season yet, at 909 rushing yards ad 11 touchdowns. For the third straight season he has averaged six yards a touch.

Barner will now get majority of the carries, with De'Anthony Thomas stealing very few. With Thomas and his small frame, the Ducks have to be careful with the way they use him to prevent an injury.

Barner is slightly bigger and at least 20 pounds heavier. But he also has the speed that very few players on the football field can match. He has crazy foot speed and can take it the distance every time he touches the football.

He finds a hole and he's gone.

With his touches expected to go through the roof next year, he will easily top 1,200 yards and possibly 20 touchdowns. He had 11 this season with just 145 carries.

Barner will now become the starting running back and develop the household name that so many other Ducks players have in the past. In an offense that scores a ton of points in Chip Kelly's system, Barner will have a huge role.

The 2012 early Heisman watch list had running back De'Anthony Thomas on it. There needs to be another Duck added to the list with James going to the NFL.

His name is Kenjon Barner.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].