Dierre Hill Jr. is the speed complement to Jordon Davison in Oregon's backfield. At 5-11, 205 pounds, Hill brings a different dimension than his partner. Where Davison pounds between the tackles, Hill can take a stretch run to the edge and turn the corner. As a true freshman in 2025, Hill and Davison combined for 1,323 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Hill's burst and acceleration made him a home-run threat on any touch. Entering 2026, the duo returns intact while the rest of the running back room turned over entirely through the transfer portal. Hill and Davison are not sharing the backfield. They are the backfield.
1,323
Combined Rush Yards
With Jordon Davison, 2025
15
Combined TDs
Hill + Davison, 2025
5-11
Height
205 lbs
Soph
Year
Speed back
15
Combined TDs by the freshman RB duo in 2025
Davison and Hill. Power and speed. 1,323 yards. Both back as sophomores. The rest of the RB room transferred out.
thequackreport.com
Why He Matters
Drew Mehringer's offense needs a change-of-pace back who can create explosive plays. Hill is that player. His speed on stretch runs and his ability to catch passes out of the backfield give the offense a dimension that pure power running cannot provide. When defenses stack the box to stop Davison, Hill makes them pay on the perimeter. When they spread out to cover Dante Moore's receivers, Hill exploits the space inside. The two-back system works because the backs are genuinely different players. Hill is not Davison's backup. He is his complement.
What to Watch in Spring
Watch for Hill in passing situations. Can he run routes out of the backfield? Can he be a weapon on screens and wheel routes? At 5-11 and 205, he has the frame to be a dual-threat back. The spring game will show you how creative Mehringer gets with Hill's speed. If Hill is lining up in the slot or motioning out of the backfield, that is a sign the new OC sees him as more than just a runner.
2025 Freshman Season
Hill and Davison combined for 1,323 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns as true freshmen, splitting the backfield workload in a way that kept both fresh and both effective. Hill provided the home-run element. His breakaway speed on stretch runs and his ability to turn the corner on outside zone plays gave defenses a different problem than Davison's power. By late in the 2025 season, the coaching staff was using them as a true tandem, with packages designed around each back's strengths. That two-back approach carries into 2026 with even more creativity expected from Mehringer.
What to Watch at the Spring Game
1
Slot alignment: if Hill lines up in the slot, Mehringer sees him as a weapon, not just a runner.
2
Screen game: Hill's speed in space on bubble screens and tunnel screens could be lethal.
3
Kick returns: does the staff trust Hill with return duties? His speed makes him a natural.
4
Change-of-pace usage: watch whether Hill comes in on second-and-long or third-and-medium. That is the tell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hill is one of the fastest players on the 2026 roster. At 5-11, 205 pounds, his speed on stretch runs and his ability to turn the corner separate him from power back Jordon Davison.
Oregon uses a two-back system. Davison is the lead back for early-down power running. Hill is the change-of-pace speed back. Both will see significant carries in 2026.
Sources: GoDucks.com, 247Sports (2025-2026). This page covers on-field performance and publicly available recruiting data only.