If Saturday night’s performance against No. 4 LSU was an indication of things to come from true freshman running back De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon fans ought to be excited.
It was an uncharacteristically sloppy contest for the two-time defending Pac-12 champions, and No. 3 Oregon had few bright spots in its 40-27 loss at Cowboys Stadium. But for the 18-year-old Thomas playing in his first collegiate game, the results were, for the most part, encouraging.
The No. 1 ranked athlete by ESPNU’s Top 100 out of high school, Thomas scored the first touchdown of his Oregon career (a four-yard run with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter) and finished the game with 22 yards rushing on four carries. He was an even bigger threat through the air, catching six passes for another 47 yards.
But Thomas also showed his youth in the collegiate ranks with a pair of third-quarter fumbles that led to back-to-back touchdowns for an LSU offense that sputtered throughout the first half.
As a team Oregon coughed up three fumbles, all of which resulted in points for the Tigers. Ball security was a major point of emphasis this offseason, despite giving away just 15 fumbles all of last season.
“Those are self-inflicted wounds,” Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. “You can’t play against a good football team like we did tonight and turn the football over the way we did.
“The drops, the turnovers and the penalties are the things that really killed us, and against a team like that, you’re not gonna win the game.”
Trailing 16-13 going into their second possession of the third quarter, Oregon gave Thomas the ball out of the backfield and picked a quick eight yards on two plays. But after a short gain on his third straight carry, Thomas was stripped from behind and the ball went straight into the hands of LSU safety Eric Reid.
Five plays later, LSU’s Michael Ford scored on a five-yard touchdown run to extend LSU’s lead to 23-13.
Then, with starting return men Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James sidelined with minor injuries, Thomas fielded the ensuing kickoff at the Oregon 13-yard line. He made a quick cut near the sideline, before giving up his second fumble in traffic that cornerback Ron Brooks jumped on at the Oregon 41.
Seven plays later, LSU tacked on another score, this time a one-yard rush from Spencer Ware to put the Tigers ahead 30-13.
“He’s got to work a little bit on ball security,” junior quarterback Darron Thomas said. “But that’s one of the guys that works hard every day. He’s gonna continue to get the ball put in his hands because he can do great things.”
When he found open space, however, Thomas showed flashes of that greatness. Playing in front of 87,711 purple-and yellow-clad fans — his first game since graduating from Crenshaw High School in June — the 5-foot-9, 173-pound speedster reiterated what his coaches and teammates raved about during summer camp.
His 122 all-purpose yards were second on the team only to LaMichael James’ 132, and Thomas displayed versatility not only a pure runner, but as a receiving threat and kick returner; two positions lacking in depth for this young Oregon team.
“I just learn off my mistakes,” Thomas said. “Things happen, but I’m gonna bounce back.”
With the media’s first opportunity to speak with Thomas this season following the loss, the freshman’s confidence was unshaken even after the two costly fumbles.
“Even though I’m a freshman, I’m gonna play like I’ve been here,” he said. “I felt comfortable. I just can’t wait till next week.”
Kelly’s confidence in Thomas was equally strong.
“Our players play from a desire to excel — not a fear of failure,” Kelly said. “I’m not yanking a kid when he puts the ball on the ground.
“As I learned from (Oregon women’s basketball coach) Paul Westhead a long time ago, you may stop the bleeding, but you may kill the patient and that’s not going to happen here.”