As soon as Jordan James declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, the Oregon Ducks were on the hunt for a replacement. Luckily, they struck gold in the transfer portal by securing RB Makhi Hughes from the Tulane Green Wave.
After two great seasons at Tulane, Hughes is now set to challenge himself at the Power 4 level with Oregon. Can he deliver the same outstanding results?
Sky-High Expectations for Oregon’s New RB, Makhi Hughes
The expectations for Hughes are sky-high, and rightly so. Why? As the starting running back for the Ducks in 2025, Hughes’ performance will be crucial to the team’s success. Adding to the excitement, the RB arrives with an impressive pedigree. He is ranked as the No. 1 running back and the No. 6 overall player in ESPN’s transfer rankings.
Good luck stopping Makhi Hughes#AmericanWay x @GreenWaveFB pic.twitter.com/N4K9q2FW2k
— The American (@American_Conf) October 5, 2024
In his debut season as Tulane’s starter, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound RB made a big splash. In 2023, as a red-shirt freshman, he earned AAC Rookie of the Year and freshman All-American honors while racking up 1,378 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Since 2023, Hughes has accumulated 3,022 yards from scrimmage. This places him second in all of the group of 5 running backs, only trailing Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty (4,655 yards).
Hughes had an impressive 2024 season; he finished ninth among FBS running backs with 1,401 rushing yards and scored 17 touchdowns.
With all eight players ahead of him on the leaderboard heading to the NFL draft, Oregon is now home to arguably the best returning RB in the country for 2025.
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Hughes will become part of the Oregon offense, led by QB Dante Moore. He’ll also play alongside his half-brother, five-star cornerback recruit Na’eem Offord. Offord made headlines when he switched his commitment from Ohio State to Oregon in December.
With his beautiful track record, will Hughes be able to replicate his standout performance at Oregon? He’ll surely be a show to watch.
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