Fansided

25 best Pac-12 football players of the last 25 years

By Nathaniel Reeves

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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EUGENE, OR – DECEMBER 02: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks scores a touchdown run against the UCLA Bruins during the Pac 12 Championship Game on December 2, 2011 at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – DECEMBER 02: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks scores a touchdown run against the UCLA Bruins during the Pac 12 Championship Game on December 2, 2011 at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

14. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

No player benefited more from Chip Kelly’s dynamic offense than James, who put up three record-breaking seasons with Oregon from 2009-2011.

James starred at Liberty-Eylau High School in Texas with a 2,000-yard season as a senior, helping him become a four-star recruit. Oregon convinced James to come to the West Coast in Kelly’s first year as head coach, and James became the starting running back after LeGarrette Blount was suspended for an altercation with Boise State.

That move made a difference in a banner season for the Ducks, as James ran for 1,546 yards on 230 with 14 touchdowns. James would be even more productive over the next two seasons with a combined 3,536 rushing yards and 43 total touchdowns.

By the end of his career, James’ name was all over the Oregon record books, and he ranks second in Pac-12 history with 5,082 total rushing yards behind Charles White. James led the nation in rushing in 2010 en route to finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting and winning the Doak Walker Award.

The San Francisco 49ers selected James in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, but he would be out of the league by 2015 with just one career touchdown.

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