Former Oregon standout sings the praise of an unheralded freshman as a potential future star during NFL Scouting Combine
When the NFL Scouting Combine gets underway, the players in attendance are largely there for their own benefit, which is an obvious statement. They're trying to showcase their abilities, athleticism, character, and personality to NFL front offices in hopes of getting selected in the upcoming NFL Draft. When they take the time to give the […]
When the NFL Scouting Combine gets underway, the players in attendance are largely there for their own benefit, which is an obvious statement. They're trying to showcase their abilities, athleticism, character, and personality to NFL front offices in hopes of getting selected in the upcoming NFL Draft. When they take the time to give the spotlight to someone else, it's great to see.
Oregon standout Jordan Burch was asked an intriguing question — if you had to bet your first NFL paycheck and bet on a freshman you played with last season to make it to the league in three years, who would it be?
After he paused, Burch responded with the name of an Oregon running back that very few people are talking about.
"Last year freshman? I'll say our running back, Dink," Burch said, citing the nickname for Da'Juan Riggs. "He's pretty good. He was just elusive. When you threw him in there with the starters, you couldn't even tell he was a freshman. So I think once he [moves up the depth chart] this year here, he'll be pretty good."
The answer came as a surprise, at least to me. Riggs isn't a name that you often here about in Oregon circles, especially not after the Ducks went out in the transfer portal and brought in the top running back available in Makhi Hughes. But, if there's one thing we know about Oregon, they love having a stable of explosive running backs that are capable of stepping on the field and providing an impact play.
Riggs is a former 3-star recruit out of Washington D.C. that stands 6-foot and 210 lbs — a solid frame for a college running back. Riggs got limited work in his freshman season, but did see the field, typically late in blowout victories. In those limited opportunities, Riggs took 11 carries for an impressive 82 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and logged his first career touchdown.
Last October, Oregon running back Noah Whittington offered praise for Riggs as well.
"I was just excited he got to do it on Saturday," Whittington said about Riggs getting his first game action. "He always does it throughout the week. He deserves it. I've been telling him he runs exactly like Bucky [Irving].
Perhaps Riggs is a name that Ducks fans need to get to know better. Entering his sophomore season, Riggs will be competing for playing time behind Hughes, looking to make his mark on the Oregon offense.
Follow along all year for more Oregon Ducks coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on Bluesky @jonhelmkamp.bsky.social, as well as follow our main page @AtoZSports.bsky.social for all the latest news.
