Dierre Hill Jr. is breaking out. The speed complement to Jordon Davison in Oregon's backfield was second nationally in yards per carry as a true freshman. The knock: he could not pass protect. That is changing fast. RB coach Ra'Shaad Samples in spring practice: "He's made an outstanding jump in pass pro and understanding defenses. He's taken a huge leap." At 5-11, 205 pounds, Hill and Davison combined for 1,323 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025. Now, entering his sophomore year, Hill is becoming the every-down back Oregon needs to run the table in 2026.
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
The Impact
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.
Spring Practice: The Breakout
The reports from spring practice are clear: Hill is a different player. Samples says he has made "an outstanding jump in pass pro and understanding defenses." Hill was second nationally in yards per carry as a freshman but could not stay on the field in passing situations because he could not pick up blitzes. That limitation is gone. If Hill can protect the quarterback and catch passes out of the backfield, Oregon has a thunder-and-lightning duo that never has to leave the field. Watch for Hill in third-down situations at the Spring Game. If he is on the field for third-and-seven, that tells you everything.
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.
Watch List for 2026
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.
