Named to Watch List for Walter Camp Award

It didn't take long for De'Anthony Thomas to splash onto the national scene last year as a true freshman for the Oregon Ducks, and for the second time this summer, Thomas has again been placed on a watch list for the best college football players in America. This time for the Walter Camp Award for Player of the Year.

According to a media release from the University of Oregon, The Walter Camp Football Foundation, which also has sponsored an All-America team since 1889, selects the national player of the year from a vote of all 124 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, has included DeAnthony Thomas on its 2012 Player of the Year watch list. The Oregon running back nick named the "Black Mamba", was previously included on the Maxwell Award watch list.

Thomas was the 2011 Pac-12 Conference co-Offensive Freshman-of-the-Year and Oregon’s co-Most Outstanding Player recipient emerged as one of the nation’s most electrifying playmakers last year as a true freshman. Thomas finished 10th in the country in kickoff returns (27.3 avg.) and 11th in all-purpose yards (159.6 avg.) a year ago while accumulating 595 rushing yards and 605 yards on 46 receptions.

Friday's media release indicated Thomas ranked second on the team in scoring (110 points), his totals included touchdown runs of 91 and 64 yards in the Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin.

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in mid-November, with the winner to be announced Dec. 6 on ESPN’s SportsCenter telecast.