Oregon Ducks Transfer Makhi Hughes: Could He Be the Best Running Back in College Football?
The Oregon Ducks, led by coach Dan Lanning, secured one of the top returning running backs in the nation by landing Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes. Hughes is one of the highest-rated players at his position, making him a significant addition to the Ducks’ roster.
Oregon currently holds the No. 4 spot in the nation for transfer portal classes, according to 247Sports, and securing Hughes, one of the best running backs available, was a major coup.
In 2024, Hughes rushed for 1,401 yards and 17 touchdowns on 265 carries for Tulane. With Oregon’s starting running back, Jordan James, declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft, Hughes has the opportunity to step in as the starting back for the Ducks in 2025.
The Profile:
Hughes is ranked as the No. 8 running back in the transfer portal by 247Sports but stands out as one of the most productive backs in college football. His 1,401 rushing yards ranked 10th nationally across all FBS running backs last season.
Max Chadwick from PFF highlighted Hughes’ impressive talent and predicted that he would be among the top running backs returning to college football. “Hughes’ 2,776 rushing yards since 2023 are the most of any returning FBS running back, ahead by 476 yards. His career PFF grade of 92.2 ranks second among returning FBS players at the position,” Chadwick noted. “It’s clear Hughes is one of the best tailbacks in college football based on his first two seasons.”
Coming out of high school, Hughes was ranked as the No. 105 running back in the 2022 class by 247Sports. He had only two Power 5 offers but chose to sign with Tulane. After entering the transfer portal in December 2024, Hughes quickly found a new home, committing to Oregon on January 7.
The Fit:
Hughes is the older brother of Na’eem Offord, a five-star defensive back signee for Oregon, which made the Ducks an obvious connection when he entered the portal. With Oregon in need of a top running back and the family tie to the program, it made sense that coach Dan Lanning pursued Hughes.
Oregon doesn’t have a clear No. 1 running back returning for 2025. Despite having Jayden Limar and Noah Whittington in the running back room, the Ducks brought Hughes in to potentially become the workhorse back, similar to how Jordan James was used by offensive coordinator Will Stein.
Last season, Oregon gave 233 carries to James and 118 to Whittington. Stein’s offense is built around a strong inside running game, which sets up their effective passing attack. If Hughes can replicate his success from Tulane at Oregon, he could become one of the top running backs selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Leave a Reply