De'Anthony Thomas is going to zip to an eye-catching time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine on Sunday, and when he does, his draft stock is going to rise faster than Mel Kiper's pompadour.
Analysts will start talking about how he can be featured in a package of 8-10 plays a game, and they'll replay all those dazzling highlights in an Oregon uniform during his three years as a Duck.
Thomas measured 5'8 5/8" inches today, and weighed 174 pounds. Although there will be questions about his durability, his only serious injury as a Webfoot was a badly sprained ankle in his junior year. He still has a big upside as an explosive weapon who can make people miss in the open field.
Only Sports Illustrated can cover him: The success of Oregon athletes at the next level pays future dividends for the Ducks.
His success can only help Oregon as they continue to pursue the next generation of fast, versatile athletes around the country. Jordan Cronkite, Chico McClatcher, Christian Kirk and others all grew up watching DAT do his thing in big games. In the most recent class, Tony James and Charles Nelson both cited Thomas as part of the reason for their interest in Oregon.
Oregon has a bigger presence at the Combine than ever before, and after a year in which Jairus Byrd, Kyle Long and T.J. Ward all made the Pro Bowl, Max Unger and Walter Thurmond won a Super Bowl ring, it all works to increase the Ducks' credibility as a top destination for next-level talent. The myth about preparing athletes for the next level has been smashed, even more so next year, when Marcus Mariota could become the #1 draft pick, and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu could join him in the first round. Jake Fisher and Hroniss Grasu could be early-round draft picks as well.
America loves a comeback story, and Colt Lyerla has a chance to write one at the combine. He's likely to turn in first-round numbers in testing, and he's come to Indianapolis slimmed down, showing a lot of poise and preparation in today's media interviews and sit-downs with teams.
When nfl.com asked him leaving Oregon in the middle of his junior season, Lyerla said, "I can't really say too much about that, but it's something I deeply, deeply regret and it's a mistake I'll have to live with the rest of my life."
They followed up with a question about his subsequent arrest for cocaine possession, spending a day in jail and nine days on a county road crew, he told them, "That was huge for me. It gave me a lot of time to self-reflect and realize that's a place I never want to be again."
With his future on the line, Lyerla's clearly accepted some good coaching and applied himself to getting better physically and emotionally. That's a good start. Some NFL team is going to be wowed by the numbers he produces and take a chance on him, and Duck fans have to hope he makes it. He's already expressed an interest in mending fences with the program for the future, and that's also good.
A lot of people have some trouble in their early 20s, particularly when they come from troubled family backgrounds. How he responds to it, what he learns, is the critical thing. I wish him well.
Taylor Hart, Terrance Mitchell and Josh Huff have to overcome some doubts about their physical abilities, and scouts will be watching closely to see how they perform in testing. For Hart, they want to see if he has power and agility, and Mitchell and Huff have to show they have NFL-caliber speed. Duck fans can attest to the heart and determination of all three, but the NFL is a cold world where measurables mean everything. Here's hoping all three get a real chance to prove what they can do.
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