After Beaverton (Ore.) running back Thomas Tyner decided to throw the recruiting world on the West Coast into a frenzy by saying he was decommitting from Oregon to take visits to other schools, he's reversed course faster than he runs through high school defenses and reaffirmed his pledge to be a Duck.
"It was hard; this has has been a very hard week for me," Tyner told 247Sports. "I've always loved Oregon and the coaching staff and the team. This is home and this is where I want to play my college football. That never changed, I just thought I should take some other visits to be 100-percent certain. But after some thinking, I know this is where I want to be. I want to be a Duck."
The 6-foot, 207-pounder committed to the Ducks almost a year ago in late November but recently decided to open things up and visit other schools, most notably UCLA. It's likely that programs will still continue to pursue the five-star right up until Signing Day, but after flirting with the idea this week of going elsewhere, he's headed down the highway to Eugene, unless something else changes.
"Oregon has always been my dream school," he added. "Everyone knows I love track and they have a great track program. And the offense is perfect for a running back like me. I'm so excited to be a Duck and I can't wait to watch them against Arizona State tonight."
A top track athlete, Tyner is second in the country with 2,325 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns a little over halfway through his senior season. Ranked as the nation's No. 10 recruit overall and the best running back in 2013, he is joined in Oregon's recruiting class by DeSoto (Texas) speedster Dontre Wilson. The Ducks are expected to take three at the running back position and could wind up in a position to also land Richmond (Va.) four-star back Derrick Green after he takes an official visit later this year.
Oregon is now up to 11 commitments for the class of 2013 with Tyner back in the fold.