Oregon
Oregon Ducks countdown to kickoff: At No. 6 (part 2), three offensive playmakers
The Oregon Ducks start the 2024 season Saturday at home against Idaho. The Oregonian/OregonLive will count down the days with mini-profiles of prominent former and current Ducks whose jersey numbers correspond with the days remaining until the opening kickoff.
Today, No. 6 (part 2): Running back/wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas, wide receivers Demetrius Williams and Charles Nelson.
Also, see No. 6 (Part 1): Defensive backs Steve Smith and Walter Thurmond III.
• • •
Bio: Oregon recruited Thomas out of Crenshaw High School (California). He originally committed to USC as a defensive back before flipping to play at Oregon. He became one of the most electric performers in program history.
Key statistics: During his career, Thomas split time between running back and wide receiver, in addition to returning kickoffs and punts.
He had a strong freshman season, finishing with 2,235 all-purpose yards (second all-time) and 18 touchdowns, which set the school record for touchdowns by a freshman.
Against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, Thomas had 314 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, with one coming on a 91-yard run play, setting the record for the longest run from scrimmage in the event’s history.
He was the only player that season to reach 400 yards in rushing (595), receiving (605), and returns (1,035 with two touchdowns).
Thomas received the 2011 CFPA Kickoff Returner Trophy, earned freshman All-America, and was named first-team All-Pac-12 by two publications.
In his second season, Thomas led the conference in rushing yards per attempt (7.6), gaining 711 on the ground with 11 touchdowns. He finished with 1,757 all-purpose yards (445 receiving) and 18 touchdowns.
The Maxwell Award semifinalist was part of an Oregon offense that helped lead the Ducks to a 12-1 record.
One of his most memorable plays came on a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game against Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Oregon Ducks running back De’Anthony Thomas (#6) on his way to an opening kickoff return for a touchdown to start the 2013 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl between the Oregon and the Kansas State Wildcats at the University of Phoenix stadium in 2013. – Thomas Boyd / The OregonianLC- The Oregonian
In 2013, Thomas was put on the watchlists for the Doak Walker Award and Heisman Trophy and was also a candidate for the Paul Hornung Award.
He suffered an ankle injury in September, causing him to miss game time. Yet, he still rushed for 594 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 246 yards. He also added another 513 yards on kick returns.
Thomas holds the program record for yards per carry in a season, 10.8 in 2011, and for a career, 7.8.
He rushed for 26 touchdowns (ninth all-time) and scored 278 points (seventh). His 5,345 all-purpose yards rank fourth.
NFL: Thomas was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft by Kansas City.
He also played for the Baltimore Ravens and in the CFL.
In 2014, Thomas was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
He ended his career with 3,136 total yards and seven touchdowns.
• • •
Oregon Ducks wide receiver Demetrius Williams scores against Washington at Autzen Stadium, in Eugene, Ore., on October 15, 2005. – Bruce Ely/The OregonianLC- The Oregonian
Bio: Oregon recruited Williams out of De La Salle High School (California).
Key statistics: Williams began making a significant impact in 2003 when he caught 51 passes for 935 yards and eight touchdowns.
Williams struggled with injuries in 2004 but still led the team in receptions (47) and receiving yards (593) and had two touchdowns.
Williams’ 12 catches against Washington State in 2004 rank tied for third all-time.
His best season came in 2005 when he caught 59 passes for 1,059 yards (ninth all-time) and 10 touchdowns (tied for fourth). Williams was named second-team All-Pac-10.
He finished his career with 162 receptions (tied for fifth), 2,660 yards (fourth), and 20 touchdown receptions (tied for eighth).
His 11 career 100-yard games ranks tied with Troy Franklin for the most in program history.
NFL: Williams was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Williams finished his career with 1,008 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
• • •
Oregon Ducks wide receiver Charles Nelson (6) during a game against the UC Davis Aggies on Saturday, September 3 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. Pete Christopher/Staff LC-LC-
Bio: Oregon recruited Nelson out of Seabreeze High School (Florida). He developed into one of the more versatile players in Oregon history.
Key statistics: Nelson did it all.
As a freshman, he returned two punts for touchdowns.
He led the Ducks in kick return yardage in both 2015 and 2016. His 876 yards in 2015 rank fourth all-time. His 879 yards in 2016 rank third.
Nelson’s 2,424 kick return yards are the most in Oregon history.
Nelson led the Ducks in receptions (52) in 2016 and produced 554 yards and five touchdowns.
He finished his career with 124 receptions for 1,555 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He also rushed for 278 yards and three scores.
Nelson totaled 4,561 all-purpose yards.
• • •
PRIOR COUNTDOWN POSTS
PALO ALTO, CA – OCTOBER 24: Bill Musgrave #14 of the University of Oregon Ducks plays in a PAC-10 NCAA football game against the Stanford Cardinal on October 24, 1987 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)Getty Images
No. 7: Running back CJ Verdell and safety Chad Cota
No. 8: Safeties Anthony Newman and Jevon Holland
No. 9: Running back/wide receiver Byron Marshall, running back Maurice Morris, and defensive lineman Arik Armstead
No. 10: Quarterbacks Bo Nix, Justin Herbert and Dennis Dixon
No. 11: Quarterback Dan Fouts
No. 12: Quarterback Chris Miller
No. 13: Wide receiver Dillon Mitchell and Cornerback Cliff Harris
No. 14: Quarterback Bill Musgrave, defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, and quarterback/defensive back George Shaw
No. 15: Defensive back Patrick Chung, wide receiver Keenan Howry, and quarterback Bob Berry.
No. 16: Quarterback Danny O’Neil
No. 17: Defensive back Rashad Bauman and quarterback Jack Crabtree
No. 18: Tight end Spencer Webb and linebacker Wesly Mallard
No. 19: The 1919 and 2019 Oregon Ducks Rose Bowl teams
Defensive back Kenny Wheaton and defensive back/running back Mel Renfro
No. 21: Running backs LaMike James and Royce Freeman
No. 22: Linebacker Derrick Malone Jr. and running back Reuben Droughns
No. 23: Running back/wide receiver Ahmad Rashad and wide receiver Jeff Maehl
No. 24: Running backs Kenjon Barner and Jeremiah Johnson
No. 25: Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin
No. 26: Running back Travis Dye
No. 27: Defensive back Terrance Mitchell
No. 28: Running back Jonathan Stewart and safety J.D. Nelson
No. 29: Defensive back Mario Clark and running back Kani Benoit
No. 30: Jim Shanley, Woodley Lewis and Dave Grayson
No. 31: Defensive backs Avery Patterson and Justin Phinisee
No. 32: Safety Jairus Byrd
No. 33: 1933 Webfoots and linebacker Tyson Coleman
No. 34: Defensive back Jim Smith and defensive tackle Jordon Scott
No. 35: Linebackers Troy Dye, Joe Walker and Spencer Paysinger
No. 37: Defensive back Talmadge Jackson III.
No. 38: Safety Eddie Pleasant
No. 39: Linebacker Kevin Mitchell
No. 40: Linebacker Ernest Jones and punter Josh Bidwell.
No. 41: Kicker Aidan Schneider.
No. 42: Tight end David Paulson and fullback Latin Berry.
No. 43: Center Brad Ecklund and lineman Ed Moshofsky.
No. 44: Defensive lineman DeForest Bucker, tight end Dante Rosario, and defensive back Jake Leicht.
No. 45: Defensive lineman Matt Toeaina.
No. 46: Linebacker Michael Clay
No. 47: Linebacker Kiko Alonso
No. 48: DL Saul Patu and LB Rodney Hardrick
No. 49: Defensive end Nick Reed
No. 50: Defensive tackle Popo Aumavae
No. 51: Offensive lineman Jeff Kendall
No. 52: Linebacker Tom Graham
No. 53: Defensive lineman Igor Olshansky
No. 54: Three champion linemen
No. 55: Centers Hroniss Grasu and Jake Hanson, plus linebacker Casey Matthews
No. 56: Offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman
No. 57: OL George Dames and 1957 Rose Bowl team
No. 58: Defensive end Kenny Rowe and center Jackson Powers-Johnson
No. 59: Offensive lineman Ian Reynoso
No. 60: Center Max Unger
No. 61: Lineman Steve Barnett
No. 62: Offensive lineman Matt Pierson
No. 63: Defensive lineman Vince Goldsmith
No. 64: Lineman Dave Wilcox
No. 65: Offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius
No. 66: Defensive lineman Taylor Hart
No. 67: Offensive lineman Jack Patera
No. 68: Offensive lineman Shane Lemieux
No. 69: Offensive lineman Bo Thran
No. 70: Fullback Bob Sanders
No. 71: Offensive linemen Mark Lewis and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
No. 72: Offensive lineman Adam Snyder
No. 73: Offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby
No. 74: Offensive linemen Kyle Long and Tom Drougas
No. 75: Offensive tackle Jake Fisher
No. 76: Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr
No. 77: Offensive lineman Carson York
No. 78: Offensive linemen Alex Forsyth and Cameron Hunt
No. 79: Mark Asper, offensive line
No. 80: Wide receivers Lavasier Tuinei, Greg Moser and Ray Palm
No. 81: Wide receiver Bob Newland
No. 82: Wide receiver Lew Barnes and tight end Blake Spence
No. 83: Tight end Ed Dickson and wide receiver Patrick Johnson
No. 84: Tight end Justin Peelle, linebacker Anthony Trucks, and Cam McCormick
No. 85: Pharaoh Brown, Tim Day and Matt Evensen.
No. 86: Wide receiver Paul Burleson.
No. 87: Wide receiver Greg Specht
No. 88: Wide receiver Dwayne Stanford and defensive lineman Brandon Bair
No. 89: This team ended a 25-year drought
No. 90: Tight end Josh Wilcox and defensive lineman Drayton Carlberg
When the Oregon Ducks’ spring football roster was officially released earlier this month, a lot of eyebrows raised at the fact that Nebraska Cornhuskers transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola was changing his number from No. 15 to No. 8.
While Raiola had often mimicked the stylings of Patrick Mahomes — who also wears No. 15 — throughout his career at Nebraska, the switch to No. 8 — famously worn by Oregon Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota — was interesting, to say the least.
In a “Meet the Flock” video released by the football program on Saturday, giving a closer look at the QB room, Raiola opened up about the number change and revealed that he received permission from Mariota and Dillon Gabriel to wear the number at Oregon.
“The last two people to wear it, if you look at Dillon Gabriel and Marcus Mariota,” Raiola said. “So before I even thought about wearing it, I called Dillon, and I asked him. And then I actually asked him if I could have Marcus’ number, and I called Marcus. I was blessed with the opportunity to wear it.”
While Raiola’s football journey has taken him all across the country, with stops in Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and Nebraska, it all started in Hawaii, where he was born and spent the early years of his life. During that time, Mariota’s legend grew in Eugene and Hawaii, as he became the first Duck and the first Hawaiian-born player to win the Heisman.
“I’m from Hawaii. I lived there for about nine or 10 years, so I call that home, and I always go back there and visit,” Raiola said.
Whether or not the number change means that Raiola is going to start trying to play in a similar fashion as Mariota did is yet to be seen, but Oregon fans everywhere would be thrilled to see him have similar success down the road.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
The Second Round of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Sunday with a slate featuring No. 1 Texas vs. No. 8 Oregon on the eight-game schedule.
Here is the latest on Sunday’s March Madness matchup, including expert picks from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.
USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the women’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.
USA TODAY Studio IX : Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more
Join the USA TODAY $1 million Bracket Challenge
No. 1 Texas vs No. 8 Oregon prediction
- Heather Burns: Texas
- Mitchell Northam: Texas
- Nancy Armour: Texas
- Cydney Henderson: Texas
- Meghan Hall: Texas
No. 1 Texas vs No. 8 Oregon odds
- Opening Moneyline: Texas (-100000)
- Opening Spread: Texas (-26.5)
- Opening Total: 136.5
How to Watch Texas vs Oregon on Sunday
No. 1 Texas takes on No. 8 Oregon at Moody Center in Austin on March 22 at 6:00 p.m. (ET). The game is airing on ESPN.
Stream March Madness on Fubo
2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full schedule
- March 18-19: First Four
- March 20-21: First Round
- March 22-23: Second Round
- March 27-28: Sweet 16
- March 29-30: Elite 8
- April 3: Final Four
- April 5: National Championship
This story was produced by the Oregon Journalism Project, a nonprofit newsroom covering the state.
Oregon’s flu season is closing in on its brutal end, which left many family members dodging each other at holiday gatherings to stay safe.
Nationally, less of the population is getting flu vaccinations, and Oregon followed that trend. This season, only 30.7% of Oregonians got the flu vaccine, 10,000 fewer than last year—a rate about one-third lower than the national average.
The low rate is unsurprising. Oregon has one of the lowest rates for childhood vaccinations in the nation, for example, with nearly 1 in 10 kindergarten students opted out by their parents, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
An OJP analysis shows Multnomah and Washington counties had the highest flu vaccination rates in the state, each around 35%. Counties in Southeast Oregon—Grant and Malheur—had the lowest, at 16% and 17.4%, respectively. So far this season, all of Oregon’s 36 counties but Deschutes and Umatilla showed a drop in vaccination rates compared with last year’s complete flu season. Tillamook had the largest decrease: 4 percentage points, down to 24%.
Tillamook public health officials are concerned, but not surprised that the county mirrors the national drop in flu vaccination rates, says Camille Sorensen, the county’s public health communications manager. The county tried to protect more residents this season, she says, by hosting several low-barrier vaccination events.
Sorensen pointed to two reasons for the drop in her county, ones that likely played a role across the state:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement action around the state may have scared off some groups of people from attending vaccination events or clinics.
Second, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has promulgated inaccurate and inconsistent information about the safety of vaccines.
“There’s a lot of confusion…regarding vaccination efficacy or other concerns about potential side effects,” Sorensen says.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the vaccine rate for this season was 22% to 34% effective in preventing doctor’s visits for adults and 30% effective in preventing hospitalizations. While the vaccine wasn’t as effective as in previous years, it remains the best way to avoid getting severely sick or hospitalized, according to OHA.
This season, the flu caused the deaths of about 10,000 people nationwide, mostly elderly, but also more than 44 children, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The association said it was the worst outbreak in nearly two decades.
In Oregon’s TriMet region (Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties), there have been 934 hospitalizations for the flu so far this year. Last year at this time, there were 1,634, or 75% more, likely because last year’s bug was more severe.
Flu shots are easier to access than many other vaccines. Most people with health insurance can walk into any drug store and get immunized. Oregonians without insurance can get a flu shot at community clinics or through their public health department.
>>> To learn more about finding a vaccine clinic near you, visit the Oregon Health Authority’s “Getting Vaccines in Oregon” webpage,
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