The obvious answer is behind LaMichael James on the Oregon depth chart.
Not today.
With James suspended for the season opener against New Mexico, coach Chip Kelly called Barner’s number to contribute to Oregon’s high powered spread option attack. The sophomore from Riverside, CA answered the call to say the least.
Seventeen carries for 147 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns. Those were Barner’s numbers in the first half. In fact, Barner was so good that Kelly pulled the young man at halftime to give other backups a chance to play.
With touchdown runs of 1, 10, 25 and 42 yards, not to mention a 60-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Darron Thomas, the kid earned a rest.
Thomas was supposed to make most of the headlines for the Ducks in week one, as the sophomore beat out fifth-year senior Nate Costa for the starting quarterback job. With a 13-of-23, 220-yard performance, Thomas might have earned player of the game any other week.
Not today.
That honor belongs to Barner.