The Rose Bowl is currently two days away from kick off and the one player that I am most anxious to see how they perform is Darron Thomas.

To be honest I don’t think this kid is given enough credit. In his first year as a starter at Oregon, Thomas led the Ducks all the way to the their first BCS National Championship, and to their first ever AP and BCS ranking of No. 1 in the nation. Then this year he has led the Ducks to their third straight BCS bowl game.

But the true question that we all haven’t seen answered, is if he can truly perform on the big stage against the tough out of conference teams. In his two big games versus Auburn and LSU over the last two years, all the pressure has been on him. Both teams practically shut down the run game and forced Darron to make plays through the air. Now don’t get me wrong, Darron did throw for over 600 yards in those two games combined. However he equaled his touchdown passes total to his interception total (3-3).

We all know Darron Thomas can be an elite quarterback with his large size, incredible athleticism, good speed, and strong arm. In my opinion it all depends on his poise. Is he rushing throws, is he making bad decisions, and is he playing calm? Sometimes I think the hype and pressure get to him, and if he could fix that one small area, this kid could be amazing and a 2012 heisman contender. Yeah that’s right I said it. If Darron Thomas can lead the Ducks to a Rose Bowl victory the Ducks will for sure stay in the top 5 rankings going into next season. Going into next season I think the Ducks have the talent once again to go through the season and not lose a game. If Darron Thomas plays up to the level we all know he can, I absolutely believe he could get a shot at the Heisman trophy.

I expect good things to come from Darron Thomas, and know with a few adjustments he can really jump up to that top group of Heisman contenders. He has the team, has the talent, and now just needs to have the faith that he can do anything. He has already accomplished goals no other Oregon quarterback has, and he’s not even at his prime yet. Keep a look out for DT because you know he has yet to be that highlight all over TV.