ATLANTA — Oregon leader Noah Whittington is expected to be a game-time decision for the College Football Playoff semifinal against Indiana on Friday night, sources told ESPN.
Whittington unexpectedly appeared on Oregon’s injury report Thursday and was listed as questionable. He is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is expected to warm up in an attempt to play.
This development comes at a time when Oregon is facing significant depth issues, as the Ducks are already without Jordon Davison, their leading rusher, who is out with an upper-body injury.
Oregon’s actions this week appear to underscore concerns about this situation. ESPN’s Katie George reported earlier Friday that the Ducks had moved two defensive players to fullback: safety Kilohana Haasenritter and linebacker Brayden Platt. (Haasenritter began his career as a backstop before moving to safety this fall.)
If Whittington can’t go, Oregon will rely on freshman Dierre Hill Jr., who has 570 yards on 70 carries.
Oregon’s fourth rusher, Jayden Limar, is in the transfer portal and not with the team. That leaves sixth-ranked Jay Harris — quarterback Dante Moore is fifth — as the primary option for the Ducks. Harris is also in the portal, but he remained with the team. He totaled 116 yards on 26 carries.
A decision on Whittington is expected to be made after warm-ups.
