Jim Mastro talks of the importance of keeping CJ Verdell healthy

Oregon junior running back CJ Verdell enters the 2021 college football season as the Ducks’ starting running back for the fourth straight year in a row. He’s done it all for the Ducks in his first three years. He’s one of just five players in Oregon history to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, is ninth on Oregon’s all-time rushing list and will move into No. 8 week one against Fresno State.

The order of business for Oregon will be keeping Verdell healthy for an entire college football season, something he’s yet to accomplish in his time with the Ducks.

“The good news is that we have tons of depth. With him it’s just managing his load,” said Oregon running back coach Jim Mastro. “He plays a physical brand of football, he’s not going to change, that’s his DNA. He’s going to go until he can’t go anymore.”

The Ducks have kept the workload light but effective for Verdell during fall camp. He’s taken part in most reps throughout the spring, but he’s also been held out when needed, and the reasoning is easy to see. He’s productive when healthy, he’s a proven back.

“The good news is we can limit his reps because we have guys behind him who are productive as hell. We just have to do what we can do to get him through,” said Mastro.

In 42 career games with the Ducks, Verdell has rushed for 2,523 yards and has averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry. His 2020 season was cut short by two games by injuries, and that limited his production some as the Ducks ended up having to give him rest to heal up. Now healthy going into the 2021 season, Mastro expects Verdell to be at his best. There are only minor adjustments needed to his game.

“Just fine-tuning his game a little bit. He’s 400 level football,” said Mastro. “You stick him on a board, his knowledge of the game is off the charts. With him, it’s just refining his skills. Maybe a little bit better of a route runner since we’re going to ask our backs to run more routes this year. He’s what you want DNA-wise, we just have to keep him healthy.”

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