Been a while since there has been a significant offer made to 2017 four-star Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verde wide receiver Bryan Thompson, while the Broncos have continuing to make their case to the No.142 overall prospect.
As you all know Thompson picked up his long-expected offer from the Ducks this week. Oregon has been an offer that he's made no secret about wanting since the spring and especially over the summer. However, while some can view it as a bad thing that Boise State already used its official on Thompson leaving the Ducks the ones to get the last impression, I don't feel that'll be a decision maker. Thompson has been looking for family and a coach he can connect with since the beginning, and once Junior Adams extended an offer toward the end of Spring, no one has been able to slow the Broncos' rise on Thompson's list.
However, Thompson told me this week he is still set on taking an official visit to Oregon and really finds the Ducks' offensive scheme very appealing. However, there isn't as much of a "wow" factor resonating off the Ducks this season, with consecutive losses to WSU and UW in the same season. While Boise State, on the other hand, remains unbeaten and in the Associated Press Top25 poll with no one seemingly on their schedule that could end their perfect season. I do believe Thompson will work to schedule his official visit to Eugene sooner rather than later, possibly on Oct. 29 vs Arizona State. Thompson has a game starting at 7 p.m. the night before to it could cut it close - landing in the morning/noon is always possible as long as the kickoff isn't early. If not, the final chance to get him in for a game is Nov. 12 vs Stanford.
I asked Thompson, now that Oregon has offered, where does Boise State stand and there wasn't much to be revealed besides knowing more when he's able to make his trip to Oregon. I do recall reading some people asking about Thompson-Washington and I want to make it clear, or maybe just clarify, that Thompson still is interested in Washington State University, and that is still not high interest but enough to be mentioned. However, there is zero communication between Thompson and Washington. The Huskies considered adding a 4th wide receiver in this class over the summer by pursuing Osiris St. Brown, who elected to commit to Stanford. Since then it's been holding guys in for 2017 and recruiting hard and heavy for 2018 for UW.
Rivals' Reaction:
In the end, I still believe the Broncos land Thompson. It will be Oregon vs Boise State [at least unless an SEC/Big10/ACC school comes calling, then there might be more interest to leave the Left-Coast time zone. But the two things that stick for me when it comes to Thompson's recruitment are 1) He has a very strong relationship with Bryan Harsin and Junior Adams, and it's been there for almost half-a-year. 2) Oregon is not Oregon anymore. There are more questions surrounding the future of head coach Mark Helfrich and some of his offensive assistants, which doesn't help when selling an elite recruit. The Ducks aren't running the table anymore. They aren't beating teams who have been toward the bottom of the conference over the past five years, because they've been replaced. Oregon can still get some kids based on it being their best offer and still hoping Oregon turns it around. I don't see Thompson as one of those prospects.
As you all know Thompson picked up his long-expected offer from the Ducks this week. Oregon has been an offer that he's made no secret about wanting since the spring and especially over the summer. However, while some can view it as a bad thing that Boise State already used its official on Thompson leaving the Ducks the ones to get the last impression, I don't feel that'll be a decision maker. Thompson has been looking for family and a coach he can connect with since the beginning, and once Junior Adams extended an offer toward the end of Spring, no one has been able to slow the Broncos' rise on Thompson's list.
However, Thompson told me this week he is still set on taking an official visit to Oregon and really finds the Ducks' offensive scheme very appealing. However, there isn't as much of a "wow" factor resonating off the Ducks this season, with consecutive losses to WSU and UW in the same season. While Boise State, on the other hand, remains unbeaten and in the Associated Press Top25 poll with no one seemingly on their schedule that could end their perfect season. I do believe Thompson will work to schedule his official visit to Eugene sooner rather than later, possibly on Oct. 29 vs Arizona State. Thompson has a game starting at 7 p.m. the night before to it could cut it close - landing in the morning/noon is always possible as long as the kickoff isn't early. If not, the final chance to get him in for a game is Nov. 12 vs Stanford.
I asked Thompson, now that Oregon has offered, where does Boise State stand and there wasn't much to be revealed besides knowing more when he's able to make his trip to Oregon. I do recall reading some people asking about Thompson-Washington and I want to make it clear, or maybe just clarify, that Thompson still is interested in Washington State University, and that is still not high interest but enough to be mentioned. However, there is zero communication between Thompson and Washington. The Huskies considered adding a 4th wide receiver in this class over the summer by pursuing Osiris St. Brown, who elected to commit to Stanford. Since then it's been holding guys in for 2017 and recruiting hard and heavy for 2018 for UW.
Rivals' Reaction:
In the end, I still believe the Broncos land Thompson. It will be Oregon vs Boise State [at least unless an SEC/Big10/ACC school comes calling, then there might be more interest to leave the Left-Coast time zone. But the two things that stick for me when it comes to Thompson's recruitment are 1) He has a very strong relationship with Bryan Harsin and Junior Adams, and it's been there for almost half-a-year. 2) Oregon is not Oregon anymore. There are more questions surrounding the future of head coach Mark Helfrich and some of his offensive assistants, which doesn't help when selling an elite recruit. The Ducks aren't running the table anymore. They aren't beating teams who have been toward the bottom of the conference over the past five years, because they've been replaced. Oregon can still get some kids based on it being their best offer and still hoping Oregon turns it around. I don't see Thompson as one of those prospects.
