Noah Whittington turning heads, settling in quickly with Oregon Ducks during spring ball

Noah Whittington has been in Eugene less than a month, but he said Oregon’s running back room has already made him feel like family.

“Since my official visit, it’s been nothing but open arms,” Whittington said. “Everybody is here to compete; what happens on the field here stays on the field. That’s what I love about this group.”

When he entered the transfer portal earlier this year, that feeling of “family” and being part of a tight-knit group was near the top of Whittington’s list of priorities. It’s, at least partially, what led him to Oregon and a reunion with Ducks’ running backs coach Carlos Locklyn.

After spending the first two seasons of his college career at Western Kentucky, where Locklyn was his position coach in 2021, Whittington committed to Oregon in February and added some much-needed depth for the Ducks. A talented third-year sophomore who plays with an intriguing mix of speed and power, Whittington has hit the ground running and is turning heads this spring as he settles into a loaded running back room.

“Really, (Locklyn) is one of the best coaches that I’ve had,” Whittington said. “The year I was with him at Western — not so much as a running back, but as a person and a football player. They offered me the opportunity to come here and compete, so that’s what I’m here to do.”

Last season, Whittington tallied 617 yards on 101 carries and scored two touchdowns on the ground for the Hilltoppers.

He said the idea of him coming to Eugene began this offseason when Locklyn was in communication with his trainer about him being a potential fit within Kenny Dillingham’s offense. Once it became apparent that the move could become a reality, Whittington said there was no doubt in his mind.

“You only live once, and it’s Oregon,” Whittington said. “Why would I not come? I don’t care what nobody says — it’s the University of Oregon. If anybody had the opportunity, they would take it.”

Throughout Oregon’s first 10 spring practices, Whittington has acclimated quickly. He is aware of Locklyn’s admiration of the program’s rich history of running backs, and he wants to help add to it however possible.

“(Locklyn) always talks about “the standard” at Oregon for the running back room,” Whittington said. “LaMichael James, everybody who has been here. He’s trying to get the room up to that standard. … All of us in there are iron sharpening iron.”

Before Whittington arrived, Oregon already had two massive talents in sophomores Byron Cardwell and Sean Dollars. Both are former 4-star signees, and both have flashed moments of brilliance during their brief Duck careers.

But both are also relatively unproven at the college level.

Dollars has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons and did not play in 2021. Cardwell thrived in a backup role last year as a true freshman but has yet to be tested as a lead ball carrier.

In Whittington, the Ducks have added a physical 5-foot-10, 190-pound back who complements Cardwell and Dollars well. From the way his coaches and teammates have talked about him this month, that physicality, as well as his work ethic, could mean good things for Oregon’s ground game in 2022.

“Noah is just a hardworking kid that I had at KU,” Lockyln said. “Extremely talented — takes on the same mindset that I have. He’s just a kid who comes to work, as coach Lanning says, with a lunch pail. He works hard and that’s what I saw in the kid; his passion for the game.

“He wants to be great.”