OCT. 16, 2018 – Monday was a recognition day for two young running backs in state.

Oregon redshirt freshman CJ Verdell was named the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 111 yards and scoring Oregon’s game-winning touchdown in overtime last Saturday against No. 7 Washington.

Verdell powered an Oregon offense that rushed for 177 yards, the most allowed by the Huskies’ defense this season. Verdell also scored a pair of touchdowns in the win.

Verdell is the first Oregon offensive player to win the conference weekly award since quarterback Justin Herbert claimed the honor in Oct. of 2016. He is the second Duck overall to win Pac-12 weekly honors this season. Safety Ugo Amadi was named the defensive player of the week following Oregon’s 42-24 win at California on Sept. 29.

Also on Monday, Oregon State freshman running back Jermar Jefferson was added to the Doak Walker Award’s candidate list.

The Doak Walker Award recognizes the nation’s premier running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community.

Jefferson ranks third in the nation and first in the Pac-12 Conference with 865 rushing yards this year and is fourth nationally averaging 144.2 per game. He also ranks third nationally with 12 rushing touchdowns. He is on pace to be the first true freshman in conference history to lead the league in rushing.

Jefferson, a true freshman, has surpassed 200 yards rushing twice this season. He joins Ken Simonton and Steven Jackson as the only Oregon State players with two or more 200-yard games in their career. Jefferson also joined Simonton as one of two players in school history with two four-touchdown games, doing so against Southern Utah and Washington State. He is the only player to do it twice in one season.

Sixty-six players are on the Doak Walker candidate list; Jefferson is one of just two freshmen.