Portland lands former Oregon QB Darron Thomas

Friday October 11, 2013

 Former Ducks Signal Caller Inks Deal with Portland’s Arena Football team

PORTLAND, OR – Portland’s Arena Football team has agreed to terms with former University of Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas, the franchise announced today. In two seasons as a starter, Thomas led the Ducks to a 24-3 overall record that included a berth in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game.

“Darron is an outstanding quarterback with rare talent,” said Head Coach Matthew Sauk. “He’s accustomed to putting up a lot of points in a high-tempo environment, which is what we plan on doing offensively. I know that with his hard-working attitude, he will learn the arena game and make a quick transition.”

Known for his outstanding athleticism and duel-threat ability, Thomas (6-2, 218, Oregon) flourished in Oregon’s fast-paced offensive attack. The former Ducks signal caller set an all-time school record with 66 career touchdown passes and ranks sixth in school history with 6,629 yards in total offense.

Thomas earned the starting nod in 2010 and proceeded to direct the Ducks to the BCS National Championship Game while engineering the country’s most prolific offense. Oregon finished first nationally in total offense (530.69 ypg) and scoring offense (47.00 ppg) while producing an undefeated regular season record. Thomas delivered 35 total touchdowns and earned second-team All-Pac-10 Conference accolades.

Thomas surpassed that production in his final collegiate season, throwing for a school record of 33 touchdowns in 2011 while adding three more scores on the ground. He led Oregon to its third-consecutive conference title and its second-consecutive 12-win season, including a 45-38 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl. Thomas finished as a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, presented annually to the nation’s top quarterback.

Portland Team President Jared Rose stated the franchise would hold an introductory press conference for Thomas and Head Coach Matthew Sauk at a later date.

Portland opens its inaugural season at the Moda Center in March of 2014. For information on season tickets, call 503-773-4AFL. For the latest news and information, visit PortlandAFL.com or facebook.com/PDXAFL and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@portlandafl).

About the AFL
Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. CBS Sports Network will broadcast an AFL National Game of the Week on Saturday nights for the entire season. The AFL schedule then culminates with the ArenaBowl Championship game pitting the American Conference Champions versus the National Conference Champions for the James F. Foster Trophy.