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 IIINo. 13 — Bo NixNo. 12 — Penei SewellNo. 11 — DeForest BucknerNo. 10 — Joey HarringtonNo. 9 — Dennis DixonNo. 8 — Jonathan StewartNo. 7 — De’Anthony ThomasNo. 6 — Kenjon BarnerNo. 5 Haloti Ngata
Today, let’s continue with No. 4 — Rolls Royce, Royce Freeman.
Player Overview
If it’s at all possible to be underrated at No. 4, Royce Freeman might be. LaMichael James and Kenyon Barner might receive more headlines, but Freeman belongs in the conversation as one of the best running backs in Oregon history. He was one of the top players in the Pac-12 for his entire four-year career. He started in his first game ans an freshman and never looked back.
At 6-foot and 238 pounds, Freeman was like a bowling ball rolling downhill, and defenders did not want to get in the way. Who could blame them? No one in the conference found themselves in the end zone more times than Freeman.
Royce Freeman Career Stats
51 games, 947 carries, 5,621 yards (5.9 ypc), 60 TD
Royce Freeman Best Single Season
2015: 283 carries, 1,836 yards (6.5 ypc), 17 TD
Royce Freeman’s Historical Records
Oregon’s all-time rushing leaderOregon’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns and total TD (64)Oregon’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards (6,435)Pac-12 leader in total touchdowns6th in college football history in rushing yardsPac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year (2014)First-Team Pac-12 All-Conference (Coaches) (2015)Maxwell Award Semifinalist (National Player of the Year) (2017)Doak Walker Award Semifinalist (Nation’s Top Running Back) (2017)
Royce Freeman NFL Draft
Freeman was selected in the third round (71st overall) in the 2018 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.
Royce Freeman NFL Success
Freeman had a good two seasons with the Broncos before being bounced around from team to team. His best season came in his rookie year as he gained 521 yards and scored five touchdowns. Unfortunately, roster decisions seem to have derailed Freeman’s career.
He had a brief stint with the Rams in 2023 where he scored twice, but was eventually released. He was on the Cleveland practice squad in 2024, but never played a game with the Browns. He is currently on the Rams once again with hopes of making their roster this season.
Royce Freeman’s Lasting Legacy
When Freeman signed with the Ducks, he was among the highest-rated offensive recruits to come to Eugene at the time and he definitely did not disappoint. He turned out to be one of the greatest Ducks of all time. Freeman was a key contributor to the Ducks’ national championship run in 2014, and he only got better from there. He paved the way for the likes of CJ Verdell, Byron Cardwell, Bucky Irving, and Jordan James.
While Freeman may not have garnered the fan adoration of a LaMichael James or Jonathan Stewart, his stats speak for themselves. He was truly a dominant back who will live on in Oregon’s history books forever.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks football’s top 25 players since 2000: No. 4 Royce Freeman
