Oregon Ducks

Ducks need Freeman to emerge as leader

Published Jun. 30, 2015 2:04 p.m. ET

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Oregon's sophomore running back sensation Royce Freeman helped lead the Ducks to the College Football Playoff national title game as a true freshman. This year, he's being asked to become a leader on and off the field.

Freeman's 1,365 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns were certainly impressive, especially for a true freshman. But with the losses of Marcus Mariota, Hroniss Grasu and other team leaders, head coach Mark Helfrich is looking towards one of his best players to fill that role.

“Each team has a different voice. Even in the evolution to lead last year’s team, three or four years ago Hroniss Grasu and Marcus were guys that were very quiet. Hroniss is a little more outgoing than Marcus. Keanon Lowe, kind of that same thing,” Helfrich said, according to Ryan Thorburn of The Register-Guard. “I think Royce Freeman is definitely a guy that needs to raise his voice and has. We tried to create situations and opportunities for him to be a leader.”

As for the responsibility of becoming a leader, Freeman had this to say:

“I’m just taking baby steps, just working on the little things and trying to help everybody out,” Freeman said after the spring game, according to Thorburn. “You don’t become a leader overnight. For some people it comes more naturally, so I’m becoming more vocal and helping out some of the running backs and branching out from there. It’s not really natural for me, I’m more of a quiet, keep-to-myself guy. But if you can help other people, why not?”

(h/t The Register-Guard)

Photo Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

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