Oregon running back Bucky Irving will play in Fiesta Bowl
Oregon star running back Bucky Irving declared for the 2024 NFL Draft earlier this week, but that does not mean that his college career has come to a close quite yet.
While meeting with reporters, Ducks’ head coach Dan Lanning said that Irving practiced on Friday and plans to play in the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl against Liberty.
“Yeah, Bucky wants to play in this game,” Lanning said when asked if Irving intends to play in the bowl game.
That’s big news for the Ducks, who will also have star quarterback Bo Nix available for the bowl game. Lanning said on Dec. 3 that Nix intends to stick around for the bowl game, rather than opt out to prepare for the Draft.
Irving earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors this season after rushing for 1,063 yards and 10 touchdowns on 172 carries (6.18 yards per carry). He ranks ninth nationally with 63 missed tackles forced. During Oregon’s rivalry win over Oregon State, Irving became just the sixth running back in program history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in multiple seasons.
His decision to play in the bowl game is particularly significant after blue-chip freshman Dante Dowdell elected to enter the transfer portal this week.
In addition to Irving, Oregon will also have Jordan James and Jayden Limar available.
Lanning was asked if any of the Ducks’ other players have declared for the NFL Draft, or who have entered the transfer portal, intend to play in the bowl game. He said Irving is the only one.
That would seem to indicate that cornerback Khyree Jackson, center Jackson Powers-Johnson, receiver Ashton Cozart, safety Bryan Addison, receiver Kris Hutson, receiver Josh Delgado, safety Daymon David, cornerback Trikweze Bridges, defensive lineman Tevita Pome’e, quarterback Ty Thompson, and running back Dante Dowdell will not be with the Ducks for the Fiesta Bowl.
Friday marked the first day back at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex for Oregon’s players and coaches after a two-week hiatus following the Pac-12 title game. Lanning called Friday’s practice a “reset” for the team as it begins to ramp up toward the New Year’s Day showdown with Liberty.
“Every opportunity to practice and opportunity to get better, right?” Lanning said. “Like, I see teams that aren’t getting to play in bowl games; they don’t get this opportunity. It’s like spring ball. It’s like another 15 practices. We get a chance to go out there and get better, so we want to take advantage of every opportunity we have in front of us.”
