Draft Scout Snapshot:DS Rating on 9/1/09: #10 CB, #71/750 Overall, Projected Rd: 3 2008: 12 GP; 12 GS; 51 Sol-66 TT, 1 TFL, 5 INT, 8 PBU; Battled pelvis injury for most of the season, but still managed to start 12 of 13 games and finished tied for first in the Pac-10 with five interceptions ... shared the team lead in interceptions, including one pick in the Holiday Bowl victory vs. Oklahoma State ... Also had five solo tackles against the Cowboys and returned six kickoffs for a total of 201 yards, including a 91-yarder to open the second half, setting up UO’s second touchdown of the game; earned the special teams game ball for his work in the season finale ... Had a 40-yard interception for a touchdown in the closing seconds of the first half at Oregon State ... awarded the team’s defensive game ball against Arizona State. 2007: 13 GP; 13 GS; KR: 3-66-22-0; 75 Sol-103 TT, 8 TFL, 5 INT, 18 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 BLK; Finished as the co-leader in the Pacific-10 Conference in passes defended (23) as well as second on the team in interceptions (5). The league’s honorable mention all-conference choice (coaches) posted a team-high 75 of his 103 tackles unassisted. Earned team’s defensive player of the week accolades in consecutive weeks for performances against Michigan (nine solo tackles, five passes broken up) and Fresno State (fumble return for TD, INT). Filled up the stat sheet vs. South Florida in the Sun Bowl with six tackles, 1.0 TFL, two pass breakups and a “Pick-6” 25-yard interception. 2006: 12 GP; 12 GS; 44 Sol-67 TT, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 SK, 1 INT, 9 PBU; Earned honorable mention all-conference acclaim as well as third-team Freshman All-America plaudits. The team’s fourth-leading tackler led the Ducks in passes broken up. Singled out as the defense’s player of the week for his play against Arizona (14 tackles, TFL) and Arizona State. 2005: Singled out for outstanding scout team play on six occasions during redshirt year, including weekly accolades on both defense and special teams leading up to games against Montana and Stanford.
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Draft Scout Walter Thurmond News
12/29/09 - Thurmond, who is still expected to get some looks from the NFL, helped out while continuing his rehabilitation, which has progressed rapidly enough that he expects to ready for the NFL Combine in February. "The rehab is going really well right now," he said. "I met with the doctor (this week) and he said I should be ready by the Combine, and if I'm not ready, I'll have a Pro Day in March. "Everything's looking good and I'm just trying to get back in football shape." Kelly likes his chances. "He's just a real student of the game, and an unbelievable competitor," the Oregon coach said. "You never have to worry about him, because he comes hard every day and just competes harder than anyone I've ever been associated with. "He has the God-given athletic ability, and I believe if he didn't get hurt, he was going to be a first-round pick. I think wherever he ends up going at the next level - and I think he is going to be playing at the next level - they are going to get a great one." But first Thurmond hopes to encourage his team to one more victory. "I won't be playing in the Rose Bowl, but it does mean a lot, even in my situation." - Steve Ramirez, Pasadena Star-News
12/27/09 - Thurmond considered making himself eligible for the 2009 NFL draft after his junior year and joining teammates Patrick Chung (safety, New England Patriots) and Jairus Byrd (safety, Buffalo Bills), who were second-round picks in 2009 and have excelled in their rookie seasons. Byrd leads the NFL with nine interceptions, but he was placed on injured reserve last week with a groin injury. What if Thurmond had opted for the NFL instead of trying to improve his stock with one more season at Oregon? "I've thought about it, to see what kind of success I would have had this season if I went into the NFL," Thurmond said. "But I'm happy that I stayed and got my degree (political science) and helped this team get to the Rose Bowl." Thurmond is "a little ahead of schedule" in his rehab work and hopes to work out for the pro scouts in February at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. For now, Thurmond's focus is on Ohio State and helping the defense prepare for dual-threat quarterback Terrelle Pryor. "I think it's gonna be a good matchup," Thurmond said. "We faced a mobile quarterback with (Washington's) Jake Locker, and we know how to contain those quarterbacks. He's not a dangerous passer like some of the guys we've faced." - Gary Horowitz, The Statesman Journal
10/06/09 - 10/06 NFL DRAFT SCOUT FALLER: Walter Thurmond, CB, Oregon: Thurmond suffered a sprained knee on the opening kickoff against Cal last week. The senior had been the team's top pass defender (17 tackles, one interception and two pass break-ups in '09; 12 career INT) and return specialist (averaging 15.1 yards on punts and 27.7 on kickoffs) before the injury. Thurmond redshirted as a freshman in 2005, so he is expected to enter the 2010 draft. Despite his slight 5-11, 185-pound frame, he supports the run well and has the hands and quickness (if not pure straight-line speed) to make plays on defense and special teams at the next level. If he passes medical tests and works out well at the Combine, those traits could push him back into the third round next April.- Chad Reuter, The SportsXchange, NFLDraftScout.com
10/01/09 - Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham and Oregon cornerback Walter Thurmond III are not letting their season-ending knee injuries keep them from exploring their NFL options. Both, in fact, have elected to enter the 2010 draft rather than apply for a medical hardship and return to college next season, the schools announced Wednesday. Thurmond's injury has received considerably less national attention. The pre-season All-American was a four-year starter and leaves Oregon with a school-record five touchdown returns for his career. A playmaking cornerback and return specialist, Thurmond had already returned each for a score this season, returning a punt for a score against Utah and an interception for a touchdown against Purdue. Thurmond was injured returning the opening kickoff this past weekend against Cal. He considered leaving Oregon early with fellow defensive backs Patrick Chung and Jairus Byrd (each of whom were selected in the 2nd round) after earning a third round grade from the NFL Advisory Committee. Thurmond's injury is also much more serious than the cartilage tear suffered by Gresham. Thurmond tore the anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. The severity of Thurmond's injury is certain to create doubt with NFL teams as to his draft status. Even with intense rehabilitation, Thurmond won't realistically be ready to workout for scouts prior to next April's draft. When healthy, Thurmond has proven himself to be among the nation's best cover corners and worthy of Top 100 consideration. His greatest asset, however, has always been his pure athleticism. If unable to prove this ability in pre-draft workouts, however, Thurmond is likely to slip into the late rounds or perhaps even out of the draft entirely. - Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
09/29/09 - The University of Oregon announced Tuesday that cornerback and kick returner Walter Thurmond III will miss the rest of the season, including the postseason, because of a knee injury suffered against California on Saturday. Thurmond, a team captain, is one of the top players on the Oregon team because of his talent and leadership. The injury, which will require surgery, effectively ends his college career. Here’s the official release from the UO, with more details later on the UO football blog, and in Wednesday’s print edition: University of Oregon senior cornerback Walter Thurmond III will miss the remainder of the year after suffering a season-ending knee injury on the opening kickoff of last Saturday’s 42-3 win over California in Autzen Stadium. A MRI on Thurmond’s right knee revealed that surgery (timing yet to be determined) would be required to repair the injury, forcing the West Covina, Calif., co-captain to miss the Ducks’ final eight games of the regular season and any potential post-season opportunities. The pre-season All-American had gotten off to a great start in 2009 and played instrumental roles in wins over Purdue and Utah, returning an interception and punt return for touchdowns in those two games, respectively. The fourth-year starter posted 17 tackles in three appearances this year in addition to being ranked second in the Pacific-10 Conference (21st nationally) in punt returns (15.0 avg.) and fifth in the league in kickoff returns (27.7 avg.). Thurmond, who had been included on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, finishes his Oregon career scoring more touchdowns (5) than any other non-offensive player in school history, in addition to equaling a school record with three interception returns for scores, and tied for ninth on the school’s all-time interceptions list (12). - Rob Moseley, The Register-Guard
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