Oregon City Gains Top Tier QB
One of the best Quarterbacks in the Class of 2015 has been working for three seasons to get noticed out in Baker City, Oregon which is not an easy thing to do. Thomas Hamilton however has done that through his efforts on the field and his appearance at a variety of camps. After a big camp series he just completed he checked in with us to let us know that he and his mother are moving in a week to Oregon City where he hopes to compete and start for the Pioneers.
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Thomas Hamilton – Oregon City (OR) 2015- NWPR ALL CAMP QB First Team at the NWEFC in 2014
Oregon City is a rising power in the prep football world and have been for several years. The arrival of former West Albany Head Coach Randy Nyquist is going to solidify that fact even more. Coach Nyquist knows how to build a winning program having gone 119-47 in 15 seasons at West Albany. He also lead the Bulldogs to 3 State Championships in the past 7 seasons and they have been a perennial power house.
Hamilton will arrive at the same time Nyquist does and what they will find is a loaded talent pool waiting for them. If Hamilton, a 6’4″- 210 lb. Senior to be, does what he is capable of the Pioneers would have a Top 5 in State QB in their backfield and 2 of the best skill guys in the entire Region in Trevon Bradford (WR/Slot/CB) and Conner Mitchell (RB/Athlete). Both of those kids have 4.4 range speed and the entire skill set of a top tier recruit. Mitchell had 1,842 yards out of the backfield which fits the power run game that Nyquist has run these many seasons featuring guys like Anthony and Jake LaCoste who both set records and moved on to college football.
Hamilton has a big arm and has worked with Chris Miller (Former Oregon Duck, Atlanta Falcon, and new Head Coach at West Linn) and John Charles (Air One Football and former PSU 1st Team All American) in the recent past to improve on his game. Both Coaches have sung his praises as a kid with a cannon for an arm and a good sense of the game. We have seen Thomas live several times and he was an All Camp Award Winner at the recent Northwest Elite Football Camp in Seattle.
What about the big move?
“I’m excited. From having seen the school and the community this will be a great place for me to finish my High School career,” said Thomas who looks forward to his move in the next few days to Oregon City.
He knows Coach Nyquist runs the ball but feels his chances to throw it a bit are good. The two have had limited contact on any football related matters. Hamilton knows that Bradford and 2015 prospect Hunter Knighton (2nd team All League WR) will be just two guys looking to get open and feels he and the Coaches will be able to find a way to ignite the offense.
“I am coming in to help the team anyway I can,” he added admitting he hopes to get his shot to throw it around a bit.
As the team comes together in August they will be looking ahead to their first year in the Mount Hood conference having moved over from the the 3 Rivers League. This will pit them against some good competition and for sure match them against League and State Champions Central Catholic. The sort of game Hamilton has longed to play in.
“That is going to be great to play teams like that. One thing I have learned from my many travels and camps this off season is that I am able to compete with the best QB’s out there and against the best teams. We have a great schedule; for instance we play Lakeridge in game 2 and that will be big for us. I am just really looking forward to the season at this point.”
His Spring and Summer have been productive. After his Seattle stop he hit Portland State, Montana, Montana State, Idaho, and the UW. Of those camps he got great feedback from all the coaches and says he is hearing quite a lot form Montana who has indicated based on his performance at their camp he is in the top tier for them to recruit. There is a lot to like about Thomas Hamilton on and off the field so we expect this move to raise his recruitment quite a bit.
If you are an Oregon City football fan this is a very talented young man coming into your program.It is going to be interesting to see what happens this season as we already have the Pioneers at #7 in our pre-season poll.
TAGSThomas Hamilton