DAT Named Freshman All-America

NEW ORLEANS – University of Oregon running back De'Anthony Thomas has been named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team, the FWAA announced before Monday’s BCS National Championship game.

Thomas, a first-year player from Los Angeles, who was selected as the squad’s all-purpose player, led all freshmen with 18 touchdowns and ranked first in scoring among non-kickers with 110 points. He was the only player nationally with 500 or more yards rushing, receiving and as a kick returner.

The Oregon freshman record-holder for touchdowns, Thomas also set the UO first-year mark with 2,235 all-purpose yards, the second-most in a single season in school history behind Jonathan Stewart’s 2007 total of 2,481. His three scoring plays of 90 or more yards tied New Mexico State’s Taveon Rogers for the most in the country, including a Rose Bowl Game record run of 91 yards in the Ducks’ 45-38 win over Wisconsin.

Thomas is the fifth Oregon player to make the FWAA All-America team in the 11 years the honor has existed, joining DL Haloti Ngata (2002), OL Max Unger (’05), John Boyett (’09) and RB LaMichael James (’09).

One of five Pac-12 players selected, Thomas was one of 14 true freshmen to earn the award. The team is selected by an 11-person panel of writers.