Former Oregon running back Travis Dye commits to USC
USC added its second running back in as many days on Friday, and boy was it a big get.
Travis Dye, the former Oregon rusher, is coming home to play his final year of college football for the Trojans—using his extra season of eligibility brought on by the NCAA’s COVID waiver. He announced the news on his Instagram page.
Former Oregon RB Travis Dye has committed to USC, per his Insta page. #FightOn✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/4SsCxPyC7R
— Saturday Out West (@satoutwest) January 21, 2022
Dye was the Pac-12’s leader in scrimmage yards for 2021 with 1,673 total yards. He ran for 1,271 yards—the second-most in the league—and added another 402 receiving yards. His 16 rushing touchdowns were also the second-most among Pac-12 backs.
Through four years with the Ducks—all as either the No. 1 or No. 2 back on the depth chart—the 5-foot-10, 190-pound back totaled 3,111 rushing yards, 869 receiving yards, and 29 total touchdowns. He holds a career 6.0 yards-per-carry average.
“My love for Eugene, the University of Oregon, all of my teammates, and the Duck community has made this decision the hardest of my entire life,” Dye wrote in a message to both his old program and his new. “I will always bleed Green and Yellow and would not be the man or the player I am today without my Duck family.
“To the fans, thank you for bringing that energy every Saturday and showing me for (four) years why Autzen is the best stadium in the nation. People talk about their school and their fans and I can’t do anything but laugh knowing what I got to experience with all of you here.
“I’ve had a great number of coaches throughout my (four) years that have challenged me on and off the field and hopefully I made it perfectly clear what each of you means to me.
“A social media post can’t possibly capture what my teammates, both past and present, mean to me. You are my brothers and blood couldn’t make us any closer than we are. I came to the facility every day with the goal of being better than the day before because of you. Having the ability to battle week in and week out with you is an irreplaceable experience and our bond is unbreakable.
“I came to Eugene with the knowledge and understanding that I was going to give this community everything I had for (four) years. I’ve tried to do that each and every day because you deserve nothing less. As many of you know, Erin and I got engaged over Christmas and we’re ready to start our life in California together. I’m going back home to play my final year of college football.”
On Thursday, USC added another running back transfer as well in former Stanford tailback Austin Jones.
So far, the Trojans have added skill talent from the portal in Washington wideout Terrell Bynun, Oklahoma wideout Mario Williams, Colorado wideout Brenden Rice, Jones, and now Dye. USC has also added Virginia offensive tackle Bobby Haskins, TCU defensive lineman Earl Barquet, Kansas State defensive lineman Tyrone Taleni, Colorado corner Mekhi Blackmon, and Oklahoma corner Latrell McCutchin.
He will join Jones, Darwin Barlow, Brandon Campbell, and 5-star 2022 signee Raleek Brown as scholarship backs in the Trojans’ running back room. Last season’s leading rusher, Keaontay Ingram, declared for the NFL Draft. USC’s No. 2 rusher, Vavae Malepeai, has exhausted his eligibility. Dye likely becomes the favorite to win the No. 1 job in his final year of college ball.