He helped the Oregon Ducks get their first Rose Bowl win in 95 years. Before the big win yesterday, De’Anthony Thomas wasn’t known to many college football fans outside the Pacific Northwest.
Just a freshman, he’s still rather obscure, but that will certainly change next year. Thomas name will be household on a national level, as he’ll make tons of highlight reel plays next year.
Needing just 2 carries (both touchdowns) to hit 150+ yards.,He finished with an INSANE 77.5 yards per carry in the win over the Wisconsin Badgers.
His 91-yard TD run was the longest in Rose Bowl history.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever had a kid average 77 yards a carry. I’ll see if next year we can get him an extra carry or two,” Coach Chip Kelly said of Thomas.
Look for the sophomore to share feature back duties with Kenjon Barner next season. Starting tailback LaMichael James has another year of eligibility, but I don’t expect him to return.
Thomas was a five-star recruit, and could have gone almost anywhere. In Eugene, Oregon his speed stands out. And that really says something, because Oregon team speed is among the nation’s elite.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. Heโs also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too.
