The New York Giants selected Oregon edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Here is everything you need to know about the new member of Big Blue:
OVERVIEW
Height: 6-4
Weight: 254 lbs.
2021: 1st-Team AP All-American
2020: 3rd-Team AP All-American
2020: Won Morris Trophy as Pac-12's Top Lineman
2-time 1st-Team All-Pac-12 (2020-21)
Coaches Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
Finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award (top defensive player), Ted Hendricks Award (nation's top DE), and Bronko Nagurski Award (top defensive player)
Hometown: South Central Los Angeles, CA
NFL.COM SCOUTING REPORT
- Scouts say he's fueled by solid internal drive.
- Long, strong, explosive and plays hard.
- Initial movements off the snap are fast and furious.
- Speed to consistently stress high side of the rush.
- Effective shoulder dip and lean into the turn.
- Firm base makes it hard to redirect or wash him down once he's to an edge.
- Wicked closing kick to the quarterback.
- Heavy hands into entry point in speed-to-power.
- Generates decent bull-rush despite lack of desired bend.
- Plays with effective use of length and upper-body power.
- Twitchy hands get on top of blockers first.
- Creates space through forceful punch and extend.
- Treats tight ends to shock-and-awe power at point of attack.
- Back-side burst to wipe out running backs and ruin the play call.
- Pursues ball-carrier with extended motor and plus speed.
View some of the top photos of Giants fifth overall pick and former Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
OREGON CAREER
Tied for seventh in program history with 19.0 career sacks in 31 games 34.5 career tackles for loss, fifth-most among active Power 5 players since the start of 2019.
Has a combined 21 quarterback pressures, 13 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in three career Pac-12 Championship Games.
First Oregon defensive lineman to earn All-America honors since DeForest Buckner in 2015.
First player to lead Oregon in sacks and TFLs in back-to-back seasons since Kenny Rowe (2009-10).
Led the nation with seven sacks in the fourth quarter in 2019.
First Oregon player in the last decade with two games of two or more sacks in a season (2019) at Autzen Stadium.
AS A JUNIOR (2021)
Unanimous All-American
AFCA All-America first team
Associated Press All-America first team
FWAA All-America first team
Walter Camp All-America first team
Sporting News All-America first team
CBS Sports All-America second team
Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist
Chuck Bednarik Award finalist
Coaches Pac-12 All-Conference first team
PFF Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
PFF All-Pac-12 first team
Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist
Chuck Bednarik Award finalist
Tim Hendricks Award finalist
Walter Camp Player of the Year semifinalist
The fourth player in program history - and first-ever defensive player - to earn unanimous all-America status ... A finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award, both given to the best defensive player in the nation ... Voted a first-team all-Pac-12 selection by the league's coaches for the season straight season ... A dominant force in leading the Ducks to a 10-3 record and trips to the Pac-12 Championship Game and the Valero Alamo Bowl … Led Oregon and tied for third in the Pac-12 with seven sacks while ranking fourth in the conference with 12.0 tackles for loss despite missing multiple games throughout the season … Turned in a career performance in Oregon's win at UCLA, sweeping National Defensive Player of the Week awards as well as two Pac-12 weekly honors … Ranked ninth nationally among FBS edge rushers in pass-rush grade according to Pro Football Focus (91.5) … 48 total quarterback pressures and 28 hurries, according to PFF … Missed two-and-a-half games due to injury, played limited snaps in his return vs. Arizona, and missed the first half vs. Cal due to a targeting penalty from the previous game.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2020)
Morris Trophy winner
FWAA All-America second team
The Athletic All-America second team
Phil Steele All-America second team
AP All-America third team
Pac-12 Championship Game MVP
AP Pac-12 All-Conference first team
Coaches Pac-12 All-Conference first team
Phil Steele Pac-12 All-Conference first team
CoSIDA Academic All-District 8
Turned in a dominant performance in the Pac-12 Championship Game that featured 12 quarterback pressures, 2.0 tackles for loss and one sack … Started all seven games … Led Oregon in sacks (3.0) and tackles for loss (9.5) for the second consecutive season … Finished third in the Pac-12 in TFLs … Led the Pac-12 in both QB pressures (34) and QB hurries (27) according to Pro Football Focus … Totaled 23 QB pressures over the final three games … Had a TFL in each of the final six games … Had a sack in three consecutive games … Led all Pac-12 defensive linemen with 38 tackles, including 23 solo … Had five or more tackles in five contests.
AS A FRESHMAN (2019)
Coaches Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
FWAA Freshman All-America team
The Athletic Freshman All-America first team
USA TODAY Freshman All-America team
247Sports True Freshman All-America team
AP Pac-12 All-Conference first team
PFF All-Pac-12 second team
Coaches Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention
Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week (Week 6)
PFF Championship Week National Team
Two-Time PFF Pac-12 Team of the Week (Week 6 & 12)
Set the program freshman record with a team-high 9.0 sacks and also led the way with 14.0 tackles for loss … Led the nation with seven sacks in the fourth quarter … Ranked second among FBS freshman in sacks and third in tackles for loss … Most sacks (9.0) by a Pac-12 freshman since Nick Perry (9.0) of USC in 2009 … Set a Pac-12 Championship Game record with 2.5 sacks in the win over Utah … Totaled 24 stops, 10.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks over the final six games … First Oregon player in the last decade with two games of 2.0 or more sacks in the same season at Autzen Stadium …. Played in all 14 games and made five starts … Made 35 total tackles, including 24 solo, with three pass breakups and a forced fumble … Tied for fifth nationally with three games of at least two or more sacks … Finished fourth in the Pac-12 in sacks … All 9.0 sacks came against Pac-12 opponents … Had 8.0 sacks in the second half … Oregon was 6-0 in games he had at least a half-sack … Had a tackle for loss in eight games … vs. California (Oct. 5): Recorded first multi-sack game of his career and forced a fumble.
HIGH SCHOOL
Enrolled in January … Signed during December early signing period … Top-ranked player in the ESPN300 … Named the USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year, as well as first-team All-USA Defense … Highest rated signee in Oregon history while ranking in a tie for the 23rd highest rated prospect all-time according to 247 composite ranking … Consensus five-star prospect and No. 1 rated recruit from California by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports … Finished as the No. 2 ranked player nationally in the 247Sports composite rating … Ranked the No. 6 prospect in the class by Rivals and 247Sports … Finalist for the ALL-USA Defensive Player of the Year and the Bobby Dodd National Lineman of the Year … Played in the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game and was named a co-captain for Team Sanders … Also invited to the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame World Bowl … Named to the PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team … Recorded 54 career sacks over four years … Had a sack in 16 of 27 games as a junior and senior at Oaks Christian High School … Coached by Charles Collins … Earned MaxPreps first-team All-America honors … Named the Defensive Player of the Year in the state of California by USA Today, while also being named first-team All-California by the paper … Named Marmonte League Co-Player of the Year as a senior, All-CIF Southern Section Division 1, first-team Daily News all-area and a member of the Los Angeles Times All-Star Team … Had 18 sacks and five forced fumbles along with 54 tackles … Turned in six multi-sack performances, including three games with three sacks … Named the Los Angeles Daily News' Player of the Year as a junior … The Ventura County Star's Defensive Player of the Year … CIF Southern Section Division 2 co-Defensive Player of the Year … The Marmonte League co-MVP … Finished with 20 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, and 99 tackles … Had at least four tackles in every game and had at least three sacks six times … Helped lead Oaks Christian to a CIF Southern Section Division 2 title, finishing with four sacks and six tackles in the title game against Valencia … Had nine catches for 134 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end … Attended Dorsey High School as a freshman and sophomore … Named the CIF Los Angeles City Section Division I Defensive Lineman of the Year as a sophomore … Recorded 17 sacks and 27 tackles for loss … Had four multi-sack games, recording three or more in three games … Chose Oregon over Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Fresno State, Illinois, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Utah, Utah State, Virginia Tech, Washington, Washington State and others.
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