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The 2012 Rose Bowl was a showcase of great offensive talent, as the Oregon Ducks won their first Rose Bowl in 95 years, beating the Wisconsin Badgers 45-38 in the highest-scoring Rose Bowl of all-time. Oregon running back extraordinaire LaMichael James, who ran for 159 yards on 25 carries in the Granddaddy of them all, has decided to enter the 2012 NFL Draft.
James is only 5'9", 195 pounds, so his NFL prospects might be light, but his college resume stacks up with just about anyone. James led the country in rushing yards per game in 2011 with just over 150 per contest. He is the second leading rusher in Pac-12 Conference history, and the only one in the history of the conference to put up three seasons with 1,500 or more rushing yards.
James ran for 200 yards four times in his junior season, including three straight games, the first Pac-12 running back to have three straight such games since Marcus Allen in 1981. James ran for 200 yards in a game seven times in his illustrious career.
Montee Ball of Wisconsin, the other dynamic junior running back in the Rose Bowl, decided earlier this week he would return to the Badgers for his senior season.
For more Oregon football analysis, Addicted To Quack.