5 RB prospects who could transform the Vikings offense in 2024
By Ben Donahue
Vikings running back prospect No. 2
Bucky Irving, University of Oregon
If Minnesota is truly concerned about having a multi-threat running back, Bucky Irving is worth a look. After considering whether to stay in college for his senior year, Irving announced in December that he is going to test the draft waters in 2024.
Irving began his college football career at the University of Minnesota in 2021 before transferring to the Ducks in 2022. As a Golden Gopher, Irving rushed for 699 yards and four touchdowns. Then, in 2022, he had 1,058 yards and five touchdowns along with 31 catches for 299 yards and three more scores for Oregon.
In the 2022 Holiday Bowl against the North Carolina Tar Heels, the 5’10, 190-pound Irving thrashed the Heels for 149 yards and two touchdowns (including a 66-yarder), leading to the Offensive MVP award.
During Irving’s junior year in 2023, he ran the ball 186 times for 1,180 yards (6.3 YPC average) and 11 touchdowns. Additionally, he had 56 receptions for 413 yards and two more touchdowns. The speedy Irving is also expected to come off the draft board in the second or third rounds. One of the few knocks on him is that Irving doesn’t have enough bulk to be considered an every-down back.