Oregon lands Florida-based, Rivals100 receiver

Recruiting is often times predictable. Landing spots are often times obvious. Warren Thompson’s Monday commitment to Oregon was not one of those times. Instead, it spit in the face of the status quo.

When the Rivals100 wide receiver announced his decision via Twitter, spurning in-state Florida State in the process, there was some semblance of shock. This announcement, like so few these days, packed a very real punch.

And while the decision itself was a bit of a shock, the reasons behind it were not. Thompson’s commitment came with the canned explanation that accompanies so many other announcements. Oregon fans, however, won’t mind that at all.

“It just felt right,” Thompson said following his announcement. “I didn't get that feeling anywhere else.”

Then, of course there were more Oregon-centric forces at work. Thompson is one of few recruits to mention certain things about his decision. Including things like … trees.

“I loved the people out there and the trees,” he said. “The campus was just perfect.”

Thompson, who attends Armwood High School in the Tampa area, is ranked as the No. 9 wide receiver and the No. 55 overall prospect in the class of 2018. He chose the Ducks over dozens of offers, including invites from Florida, Florida State, Alabama, USC and LSU.

Thompson did not say if he intends to take official visits this fall, but the prevailing though tis that he will take at least a few.

RIVALS REACTION: Landing Thompson’s commitment is a massive win for Oregon, but the Ducks aren’t out of the woods just yet. Because of the school’s Pacific Coast location, hanging on to early commitments from Florida has proves difficult. Getting to Signing Day with Thompson’s commitment intact will be difficult but not impossible by any stretch.