Brock Thomas makes first career start for Oregon Ducks vs. Nebraska

How former Sheldon star Brock Thomas went from walk-on to backup QB for Oregon Ducks

There were plenty of raised eyebrows among Oregon Ducks football fans Oct. 25 when the program's star quarterback, Dante Moore, left UO's 21-7 win over Wisconsin due to injury.

It wasn't Austin Novosad, a talented former four-star prospect who battled Moore for the starting job throughout fall camp, stepping in as the replacement under center. Luke Moga and Akili Smith Jr. — both highly touted recruits who arrived in Eugene with plenty of buzz — remained on the sideline, too.

Instead, redshirt sophomore Brock Thomas got the nod and helped the No. 6 Ducks close out the win amid a torrential downpour at Autzen Stadium.

How, many UO fans wondered, did a walk-on leapfrog three scholarship quarterbacks on the depth chart and earn the keys to Oregon's vaunted offense during a must-win game?

It didn't take long for Ducks head coach Dan Lanning to spell it out.

"(The fans) should go to our locker room and see them carry Brock Thomas up in the locker room after the game," Lanning said during his postgame press conference. "Like, our players see it every day in practice. When has Brock come in and not performed well for us this season? He's done what we've asked him to do every time he's come in. So people should stop worrying about it. And they should also know that those other quarterbacks are doing a really good job in practice, too.

"But Brock's playing well, guys. Watch the film."

Those who watched Thomas rise through the prep football ranks at nearby Sheldon High aren't surprised by the fact he has earned a spot on the two-deep at a powerhouse program that has aspirations of winning a national title.

"I believe to my core that good things happen to good people," Sheldon coach Tyler Martell said. "Brock is as good a kid as there is. If you keep doing things the right way, it's going to work out. It's working out really well for him."

"Brock is maybe the most consistent player I've ever coached," Willamette High coach Josh Line, who served as Thomas's head coach at Sheldon, said. "He's fast and has a really good arm, sure, but I can't recall him having a lot of bad days. He always showed up dialed into whatever we were trying to accomplish that day."

"He's about the most coachable player I've ever worked with," longtime Sheldon offensive coordinator Jordan Johnson said. "Usually your most talented guys aren't that way, but he definitely is. We had the success we had when he was here because, not only was he one of our best players, but everybody looked up to him because of how tough of a kid he was. ... He's a pretty easy guy to follow, because he does everything right."

In the modern era of college football recruiting, where Name, Image and Likeness deals and the transfer portal have raised the stakes for top-tier programs, it is more difficult than ever for players in Thomas' position to earn on-field opportunities.

A no-star recruit according to 247Sports, Thomas chose a walk-on chance at Oregon over scholarship offers from programs such as Northern Arizona, Portland State and Eastern Washington, knowing full well that meant an uphill battle to playing time.

And yet, the hometown hero has found a way at his dream school.

'He's a special athlete'

Sheldon has forged a reputation for churning out star quarterbacks over the years.

For most Eugene residents, Los Angeles Chargers superstar Justin Herbert needs no introduction. Michael Johnson Jr. was a four-star prospect who went on to play at Penn State, Florida Atlantic University, Syracuse and Akron.

Kellen Strahm was a first-team all-state signal-caller who is now playing professional baseball in the Texas Rangers farm system. Taylor Alie enjoyed his own successful walk-on career with the Ducks. The list goes on.

"When you think about the guys who have coached our quarterbacks for the last 27 years, or so, it's Marty Johnson and Jordan Johnson," Martell said. "Those guys are getting coached really well; they're prepared and I think that translates to the next level. ... But obviously, you have to have a lot of God-given ability and get a little lucky to play at that level. When you mix the natural ability that Brock has with the head on his shoulders, those are the characteristics that we look for in our quarterbacks."

Thomas shares plenty of key attributes with many of his predecessors. The only knock on him from college evaluators, according to Line and Johnson, was the fact that he stands 6 feet tall instead of 6-4.

"Right away, as a freshman, he had a natural ability to move in the pocket. He had great footwork — stuff that young guys usually have to really focus on," Jordan Johnson said. "Brock just came in and could do it right away. He's a top-tier athlete. Maybe he doesn't necessarily look that way; he doesn't walk in the door like (Herbert) and make you go, 'Oh my god, that's an NFL body.' But he's a special athlete."

Thomas was a state finalist in the 100-meter dash as a senior and clocked an impressive 10.81-second time in that event. He anchored the Irish 4x100-meter relay team that captured the 2023 Class 6A title.

A three-year starter under center for Sheldon, Thomas earned honorable mention all-state honors as a junior and was a first-team all-state pick as a senior. During his senior campaign, he led the Irish to the 2022 state title game and went toe to toe with West Linn's Sam Leavitt, who now stars at Arizona State, in a hard-fought 23-14 loss.

"We threw him into the fire as a sophomore, and he might not have been totally ready," said Martell, who served as the school's defensive coordinator at that time. "But it paid dividends as he went down the road. He got to play in some really big games because of the experience he got as a sophomore. He was so dangerous with his legs and with his arm that he caused nightmares for teams."

While many programs are reluctant to let their quarterbacks play on the defensive side of the football, Thomas forced the hand of his Sheldon coaches. He was a contributor at safety throughout his time with the Irish despite the fact that the school had plenty of other talented defensive backs.

"We have the mentality of wanting to get our best players on the field," Martell said. "He was pretty stinking athletic and we wanted him to go out there and make plays."

'The legend of Brock Thomas'

By the time he left Sheldon, Thomas had created a legacy as one of the top quarterbacks to come through the Eugene-Springfield area this century.

But it was a gritty special teams play in a do-or-die moment his junior season that cemented him as a local high school football legend.

On Oct. 22, 2021, Thomas and the Irish traveled south to face a strong Roseburg team in a game that would ultimately decide the Southwest Conference title.

Sheldon led the Indians, 49-47, in the final seconds of regulation. But Roseburg had marched its way into Irish territory and had an opportunity to kick a game-winning field goal that would drastically alter the outlook of both teams' season.

Sheldon needed a miracle if it hoped to keep its hopes alive.

Enter Brock Thomas.

"Scott Wright is one of the best high school coaches I've ever been around," Line recalled. "He had our guys huddled up and Brock runs into the huddle and says, 'Coach, I'll block the kick.'"

Thomas hadn't logged a single special teams snap all year. He had never even practiced there. But, true to his word, he came screaming off the edge as soon as the ball was snapped, launched his body in front of the ball and blocked the kick to secure the win — and the league title — for his team.

"That is the Brock Thomas legend at Sheldon High School. It was like the 'Hoosiers' final shot. ... It was unreal," Line recalled with a laugh. "It ended up saving my bacon as the head coach, because I kind of put us in that situation. It was a moment for our team and certainly for Brock that I'll never forget."

Alec Dietz contributed to the introduction this story.

Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached at jdenney@gannett.comor on X @jarrid_denney.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Brock Thomas makes first career start for Oregon Ducks vs. Nebraska