Oregon RB Dierre Hill making ‘huge leap’ in pass protection
After a standout freshman season, Oregon RB Dierre Hill is ready to become a more complete back in his second season.
The Oregon Ducks had a very deep running back room in the 2025 season. At this time last season, the Ducks weren't expected to feature a pair of freshmen in the backfield as much as they did, but there came a point where the talent on the field was undeniable. Entering the Peach Bowl , that depth had all but vanished, with Noah Whittington and Jordon Davison dealing with injuries and others having already hit the transfer portal.
That left freshman tailback Dierre Hill Jr. as the remaining back with plenty of experience during the regular season. However, Hill only got five carries in the loss to Indiana, primarily because he wasn't an ideal asset in pass protection.
Instead, more snaps went to Jay Harris , whose size made him more useful to protect Dante Moore and still present a physical threat on the ground. Hill, standing 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, was used on the edges more often, hoping his speed and shiftiness could move the chains. According to PFF, Hill only had six snaps last season in pass protection.
This season, not only is Hill getting stronger, but he's learning the ins and outs of pass protection to stay on the field more and become an every-down threat. He's even getting help from Davison, who will likely share the backfield with Hill again next season. “It’s definitely helped me being able to just look over my notes and actually, truly analyze them," Hill said.