Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 2 — LaMichael James

USA Today

3 days ago

Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century.
Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft.
It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely.
To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way.
But who is the best of the best?
That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success.
Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks.
If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings:
No. 25 — Bucky Irving
No. 24 — TJ Ward
No. 23 — Tez Johnson
No. 22 — Troy Dye
No. 21 — Samie Parker
No. 20 — Patrick Chung
No. 19 — Kayvon Thibodeaux
No. 18 — Troy Franklin
No. 17 — Nick Reed
No. 16 — Jairus Byrd
No. 15 — Jeff Maehl
No. 14 — Walter Thurmond III
No. 13 — Bo Nix
No. 12 — Penei Sewell
No. 11 — DeForest Buckner
No. 10 — Joey Harrington
No. 9 — Dennis Dixon
No. 8 — Jonathan Stewart
No. 7 — De'Anthony Thomas
No. 6 — Kenjon Barner
No. 5 — Haloti Ngata
No. 4 — Royce Freeman
No. 3 — Justin Herbert
Today, let's continue with No. 2 — the one and only LMJ, LaMichael James.
Player Overview
Throughout the years, the Oregon Ducks have had some elite running backs come through the program. From the likes of Derek Loville and Sean Burwell to Jeremiah Johnson and Jonathan Stewart, the Ducks' rise to success was buoyed mainly by the rushing attack. In recent years, guys like Royce Freeman, C.J. Verdell, and Bucky Irving have furthered that success. None, though, can compare to the likes of LaMichael James.
In his three years with the Ducks, James not only captivated the Oregon fanbase but also overtook the national landscape and became one of the most dominant rushers in all of college football. Aided by Chip Kelly's innovative offensive scheme, LMJ set records and transcended a generation with endless highlight-reel plays that will live on through history. While the Ducks have a long list of historic RBs to call their own, it's hard to argue against the fact that LaMichael stands at the top of the list.
LaMichael James Career Stats
37 Games — 771 rushes, 5,082 yards, 57 total touchdowns
LaMichael James' Best Single Season
2010: 12 Games — 291 rushes, 1,731 yards, 21 TDs // 17 catches, 203 yards, 3 TDs
Picking LaMichael James' best season isn't as straightforward as you might think. In all three years at Oregon, he had more than 1,500 rushing yards and 14 TDs. In 2010, though, James was named a First-Team All-American and won the Doak Walker Award, while also finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting. James was a significant part of the Ducks' run to the national championship game, where they ultimately lost to the Auburn Tigers, 22-19.
LaMichael James Historical Stats and Records
LaMichael James' NFL Draft
The San Francisco 49ers drafted LaMichael James with the 61st pick in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
LaMichael James' NFL Success
Following the incredibly successful conclusion of his college career at Oregon, it comes as somewhat of a surprise that LaMichael James was unable to find much success in the NFL. After getting drafted by the 49ers, James spent two years in San Francisco before joining the Miami Dolphins. James spent two years in Miami before being waived in 2015 and ultimately retiring.
LaMichael James' Lasting Oregon Legacy
Although James' legacy was primarily confined to the college football world, it was substantial enough to last a lifetime. What he was able to accomplish in three years at Oregon, while helping lead the Ducks to some of their most successful seasons, cemented him in the history books and made him a fan favorite for life. Now, long after his playing career, James still finds himself around the program, and he opened up a chain restaurant, Killer Burger, near Autzen Stadium. Before all is said and done, there will be many great running backs to come through Eugene, but there will only ever be one LaMike.
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