EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — When the No. 7 Ducks visit Tennessee this Saturday, running back LaMichael James will be making his season debut after a one-game suspension because of offseason trouble.
James says he’s eager to play after sitting out the Ducks’ 72-0 rout of New Mexico last Saturday.
James is the Pac-10’s leading returning rusher. He ran for a Pac-10 freshman record 1,546 yards last season and was named the league’s freshman of the year. Among his highlights was 183 yards rushing in Oregon’s 47-20 upset of then-No. 5 USC on Halloween night.
But in the offseason he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge stemming from an altercation with his girlfriend, and Ducks coach Chip Kelly suspended him for the opener.
