USC Trojan Football Recruiting: The Curious Saga Of The DeAnthony Thomas "Flip."

While Trojan fans celebrated USC's fantastic recruiting class haul on Wednesday, a strange episodic offshoot was playing itself out that night at Crenshaw high school involving mega recruit DeAnthony Thomas.

With tears streaming down his face, Thomas shocked the Trojan faithful by choosing Oregon over USC, the team that he had been committed to for months.

Stunned Trojan fans were left wondering why Thomas would suddenly back off the team and school he had been openly touting since he gave his verbal pledge months ago.

Now we may know why.

In a story filed by "Paragon C" on Conquest Chronicles.com, Thomas reneged on his verbal out of concern for his physical well being.

According to the report, Thomas, while at a party, witnessed someone being murdered by gang members.

Thomas, again, according to unnamed sources, cooperated with the police and with his help authorities arrested the gang member(s) in question.

Of course, as anyone can surmise, this didn't play well with the gang itself and a "hit" has now been put out on Thomas and his family.

This, in turn, motivated Thomas to turn to Chip Kelly and the Ducks in an effort to put as much distance between he and the gang as possible.

Which, as we all know now, culminated in Thomas' pledge to Oregon.

This also explained the multitude of tears that Thomas shed because, according to the story, Thomas never wanted to leave the southland nor did he really want to play for anyone other than USC.

But is this true?

In the report, an unidentified member of the police provided the details of what transpired.

As any journalist can tell you, sources that are not identified carry doubt along with their assertions.

And if Thomas' family is in jeopardy as well, does Oregon plan to move them north as well?

It would appear that if young DeAnthony is truly in fear for his family's safety, a move to Oregon would simply be putting a band-aid on a much larger wound.

So, at the end of the day, we are left with more questions than answers.

What is certain is that DeAnthony Thomas will be plying his trade for the Ducks in Oregon.

And, except for certain Saturdays in the fall, the Trojans and their fans fans wish him well.

Let's hope that DeAnthony Thomas went to Oregon for all the right reasons and not because he feared for his life.

Anything less will make future Trojan victories over the Ducks much less sweeter.

Read the original Conquest Chronicle story: http://www.conquestchronicles.com/2011/2/4/1975303/the-backstory-on-thomas-flip