The Black Mamba Uncoils and Writhes through the Links

Rumors are swirling on the web that 5-star running back/cornerback prospect De'Anthony Thomas is considering switching his commitment from USC to Oregon.

Matt Hinton reports the Crenshaw High speedster made a surprise visit to Oregon this weekend, along with standout offensive lineman Jake Fisher, had a great visit and may have verbally committed to the Ducks.

A Sports Illustrated feature revealed that Thomas plays with a Cliff Harris-like flair.  He has 4.4 speed in the 40 and won the all-city track meet last spring with 20.61 time in the 200 meters.  Listed at 5-9 170, the inevitable comparison is LaMichael James, but Trojan fans have labeled him the next Reggie Bush.  As a Pop Warner star he was mentored by uber Trojan fan and rap legend Snopp Doggy Dog.  He ran for 1299 yards and 20 touchdowns in his senior year.

Here is a look at his junior highlight video and another more extensive clip.  First impression:  the Bush comparison is apt.  He's a speed back who's been well-coached to trust his speed.  Wastes little time getting to the second level and gets upfield.  Like LaMichael, he runs with surprising toughness for his size, and the toughness factor is backed up by his defensive highlights, where he displays a willingness to get in traffic and hit.  The speed/strength/explosiveness training provided by Jim Radcliffe and his staff could make him a dominating runner if he continued to apply himself.

Last-minute recruiting machinations can be a lot of sound of fury, signifying some major talent is feeling neglected or met a new girl.  Duck fans have been down this road before with Bryce Brown and Terrelle Pryor.  But for the number one athlete in the country to be considering dumping the Trojans to become a Duck, that's the surest indication of a brave new world that has potential superstars flying in unexpectedly from all points of the compass.

The next question is, should Thomas avoid being influenced back into the Trojan fold, with the campus just a mile and a half from where he attended high school, can he make the adjustment Cliff Harris made, and learn to conform, become a part of a corps?   Chip Kelly tolerates and encourages refreshing personalities, but Oregon is a program with a lot of stars but one common and non-negotiable goal:  they're not here to win awards and gain headlines; they want to win games.