Heisman Watch: LaMichael James

The small but  shifty Oregon running back has had trouble off the field but when he puts on those Nike cleats and steps on the turf the little guy is a great one. The star running back for an Oregon team that scored almost 50 points a game last year is going to be a player that the whole nation will be watching in this upcoming season.

James finished third in the Heisman voting last year but is still coming off of a bittersweet season after a devastating loss to Cam Newton and Auburn in the National Title game. James was one of the stars on an undefeated Oregon Ducks team that lit up the scoreboard . They ran and ran till teams started to fake injuries to stop the play and get some air.

James missed the first game of the season because of some off the field problems and when his backup ran for over 200 yards and five touchdowns in a 72-0 win some thought that James may not be the starting when he came back. He proved all of those doubters wrong in the next game when he scampered 72 yards while breaking tackles left and right for a touchdown in one of the best college football plays of the season. He backed that run up with another 10 unbelievable games and ended the season with a rushing total of over 1700 yards and got into the end zone 24 times.

James will return to the Oregon backfield this season focusing on one goal: A National Title. The 5'9 running back will be joined in the backfield once again with dual threat quarterback Darren Thomas and fellow running back Kenjon Barner while Chip Kelly will once again conduct a fast paced offense. These three will try and carry the Ducks to another National Title game run, and this time resulting in a Championship trophy that they can bring back to Eugene, Oregon for the Duck faithful.

Its hard to improve on the outstanding numbers that LaMichael James put up last season, but James stayed out of trouble this off season so he will get one more game in...could be a 200 yarder. This kid can run with the combination of speed, agility and strength. This skill set put him at the top of the College Football world and these skills will keep him up their for this season and hopefully the next season as well. You better not let him get a step on you or next time you'll see him he'll be in the end zone.

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