Dante Dowdell, Jayden Limar learning quickly as Ducks

There is no shortage of running back talent in Eugene, Oregon during the spring of 2023.

After a stellar season in 2022, the Ducks bring back both Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington, who combined for just under 2,000 yards in their first year with the program. On top of that, sophomore Jordan James is expecting a bigger role in the offense after serving as the go-to short-yardage rusher a year ago, and the Ducks also bring in two highly-rated 4-star RBs from the 2022 recruiting class — Dante Dowdell and Jayden Limar.

When you come to college as a top-20 RB in your class — Dowdell was rated No. 6 in 2022, Limar No. 18 — there may be an expectation that you can get on the field as a true freshman and display some of the high ceiling that you bring. When you come to as stacked of a room as there is in Eugene, though. you’ve got some work to do in order to prove that you deserve the carries.

“Dante and Jayden, they have come along pretty well,” RB coach Carlos Locklyn said. “You’re gonna earn it in my room, and that’s it. You’re gonna earn it and they’re starting to get that, both of them.”

Earning a spot on the field may be more complicated than just running hard. While both backs had immense success at the high school level, any player will tell you that the college game moves quicker, and it takes more processing mentally in order the be an elite player.

“They understand that it takes more than just getting the ball and running in college. This ain’t high school,” Locklyn said. “I say it to them all the time; this ain’t high school. This is college. It’s like starting all the way back over again.”

Despite the necessary jump in football IQ that is needed and the massive increase in game speed and player size, both Dowdell and Limar are coming along nicely so far in their first spring camp at the college level. While there have been limited opportunities for ‘to the ground’ tackling and contact beyond thudding pads, the…