De'Anthony Thomas NFL Draft 2014: Highlights, Scouting Report for Chiefs RB

De'Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon (HT: 5’8⅝", WT: 174 lbs)

Kansas City Chiefs 

Fourth Round: 124th Pick 

NFL Comparison: Darren Sproles, RB, Philadelphia Eagles 

Height	Weight	Arm	Hand
5085	174	29 7/8"	8 1/8"

40-yd dash	10-yd split	Vert	Broad	3-Cone	Shuttle
4.50	1.58	32"	10'4"	DNP	DNP

Positives

• Great burst; he explodes around the corner or through the hole demonstrating excellent acceleration.
• Despite a disappointing 4.50 at the NFL Scouting Combine, he possesses track speed and is a threat to take it the distance at any time.
• Very quick, has excellent lateral agility and is able to cut on a dime.
• Elusive in the open field, shows the ability to make defenders miss on in space and can make himself skinny in the hole.
• Versatile playmaker that can run, catch and return.
• A good enough receiver that he may have the potential to develop into a full-time option in the slot.
• Catches the ball cleanly away from his body, plucking it easily outside his frame.
• Dangerous after the catch with a combination of speed, agility and elusiveness that allows him to squeeze extra yardage out of any given play.
• Runs decent routes both out of the backfield and in the slot.
• Has nimble feet and can tip-toe on the sideline, staying inbounds.
• Demonstrates vision to identify cutback lanes and find daylight.
• Was often utilized in motion at Oregon; he can be moved around the formation to identify coverage and create mismatches.
• Compact build makes it possible to lose sight of him in traffic.
• Explosive kick and punt returner; he returned four kicks for touchdowns at Oregon and averaged 17.1 yards per punt return.

Negatives

• Very small with a slight build. Stands only 5’8.625” and is at least 20 pounds too light for an NFL running back, having weighed in at only 174 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine.
• Lack of mass makes it difficult to withstand punishment, especially between the tackles. His momentum can be stopped or redirected, and he often goes down on first contact.
• Not a powerful or bruising runner that will break many tackles; he cannot run through defenders and is not effective inside.
• Tends to be hesitant when his lanes are congested, running tentatively and occasionally dancing behind the line of scrimmage.
• Does not churn his legs once he has been hit and does not generate much yardage after contact.
• May not be seen by many teams as capable of contributing at running back; he could be more of a gadget player to some.
• Not good in short-yardage situations due to lack of size and power and cannot push the pile forward.
• A very limited blocker due to his size; he can be overwhelmed in pass protection
• Has extremely small hands, measuring only 8.125".
• Long-term durability could be a concern. He missed four games in 2013 due to an ankle injury and never looked the same after returning.

Year	Team	Car	Yds	Avg	TD
2011	Oregon	55	595	10.8	7
2012	Oregon	92	701	7.6	11
2013	Oregon	96	594	6.2	8

Year	Team	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2011	Oregon	46	605	13.2	9
2012	Oregon	45	445	9.9	5
2013	Oregon	22	246	11.2	1

Personal Notes

• Honorable mention All-Pac-12 2012.
• First-team All-Pac-12 kick returner 2011.
• Pac-12 co-Offensive Freshman of the Year 2011.
• Averaged 25.8 yards per kick return in college, returning four for touchdowns.
• His nickname is the "Black Mamba."
• Family and human services major.

Ratings Chart

nces.ed.gov

Overall

Among college football’s most dynamic players, De’Anthony Thomas made the decision to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft. A versatile and electric playmaker capable of catching the ball and returning kicks or punts, he could have immediate value to a team. One concern, however, is that he is too small to play the role he did at Oregon and is simply a gadget player without a true NFL position. Still, he possesses a skill set that, if used correctly, could allow him to become one of the league’s more exciting weapons.

Draft Projection: 4th-5th Round