2021 Football Roster
Jersey Number 5
Kayvon Thibodeaux
- Position:
- Defensive End
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 258
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- South Central Los Angeles, Calif.
- High School:
- Oaks Christian HS
Bio
2022 NFL Draft
Selected by the New York Giants with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft ... Made Oregon one of three schools (Alabama & LSU) to have a top-10 pick in 2019 (Justin Herbert), 2020 (Penei Sewell) and 2021 (Thibodeaux) ... Oregon's first top-five selection since Marcus Mariota (No. 2) in 2015 ... Joined Dion Jordan (No. 3, 2013) as the only UO defensive players to be taken in the top five ... Oregon's seventh all-time top-five selection, 10th top-10 pick and 20th first-round selection .... UO's seventh top-10 draftee since 2000 and sixth since 2013, and the eighth defensive Duck player to be selected in the first round ... Ninth Duck ever to be drafted by the Giants.
Notes To Know
» 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 Sophomore (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
» Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8)
» Bednarik Award National Player of the Week (Week 8)
» Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Week 8)
» PFF National Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8)
» Two-Time PFF National Team of the Week (Week 7 & Week 8)
» Two-Time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8 & Week 11)
» Two-Time Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week (Week 8 & Week 11)
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 … vs. Fresno State (Sept. 4): Opened the season with a sack and a forced fumble in the first half vs. the Bulldogs before leaving with an ankle injury, which forced him to miss the next two games and play limited snaps in a third … vs. California (Oct. 15): Finished with five tackles, a sack, and a whopping 10 quarterback pressures despite only playing the first half after getting a targeting penalty in the second half vs. Stanford … at UCLA (Oct. 23): Named the Bronko Nagurski, Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, and Pro Football Focus National Defensive Player of the Week as well as the Pac-12 Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Week after a tremendous performance vs. the Bruins … Absolutely dominated the UCLA offensive line, setting career-highs with nine tackles (eight solo) and 4.5 tackles for loss while recording two sacks and a forced fumble … One of two FBS players in 2021 with at least four TFLs, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a game … First Oregon player since 2007 (Nike Reed) to record at least nine tackles, four TFLs and two sacks in a game … First Duck since 2017 (Jalen Jelks) with at least four tackles for loss in a game … Nine total QB pressures, according to PFF … vs. Colorado (Oct. 30): Three tackles and three quarterback hurries vs. the Buffaloes … vs. Washington State (Nov. 13): Swept the Pac-12 Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Week awards for the second time this season after an impressive showing vs. the Cougars … Notched six solo tackles and two sacks, his second multi-sack game of the season … vs. Utah (Dec. 3): Finished with three tackles and one sack, giving him 4.5 in three career Pac-12 Championship Games.
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
» Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week (Week 16)
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 … Added three pass breakups … at No. 13 USC (Dec. 18): Earned Pac-12 Championship Game MVP honors after 12 QB hurries, 2.0 tackles for loss and a third-down sack in the third quarter … Had a TFL on a fourth down play in the first quarter … The 12 QB pressures were the most by a Pac-12 player in 2020, according to PFF.
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 … Named Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week … at USC (Nov. 2): Returned home to L.A. with 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack … vs. Arizona (Nov. 16): Made a season-high 3.0 tackles for loss, highlighted by a pair of fourth-quarter sacks … vs. Utah (Dec. 6): Set the Pac-12 Championship Game record with 2.5 sacks, which all came in the fourth quarter, and added five tackles … Became the first player to ever block a punt in the championship game.
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.
Selected by the New York Giants with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft ... Made Oregon one of three schools (Alabama & LSU) to have a top-10 pick in 2019 (Justin Herbert), 2020 (Penei Sewell) and 2021 (Thibodeaux) ... Oregon's first top-five selection since Marcus Mariota (No. 2) in 2015 ... Joined Dion Jordan (No. 3, 2013) as the only UO defensive players to be taken in the top five ... Oregon's seventh all-time top-five selection, 10th top-10 pick and 20th first-round selection .... UO's seventh top-10 draftee since 2000 and sixth since 2013, and the eighth defensive Duck player to be selected in the first round ... Ninth Duck ever to be drafted by the Giants.
Notes To Know
» 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 Sophomore (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
» Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8)
» Bednarik Award National Player of the Week (Week 8)
» Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Week 8)
» PFF National Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8)
» Two-Time PFF National Team of the Week (Week 7 & Week 8)
» Two-Time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8 & Week 11)
» Two-Time Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week (Week 8 & Week 11)
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 … vs. Fresno State (Sept. 4): Opened the season with a sack and a forced fumble in the first half vs. the Bulldogs before leaving with an ankle injury, which forced him to miss the next two games and play limited snaps in a third … vs. California (Oct. 15): Finished with five tackles, a sack, and a whopping 10 quarterback pressures despite only playing the first half after getting a targeting penalty in the second half vs. Stanford … at UCLA (Oct. 23): Named the Bronko Nagurski, Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, and Pro Football Focus National Defensive Player of the Week as well as the Pac-12 Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Week after a tremendous performance vs. the Bruins … Absolutely dominated the UCLA offensive line, setting career-highs with nine tackles (eight solo) and 4.5 tackles for loss while recording two sacks and a forced fumble … One of two FBS players in 2021 with at least four TFLs, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a game … First Oregon player since 2007 (Nike Reed) to record at least nine tackles, four TFLs and two sacks in a game … First Duck since 2017 (Jalen Jelks) with at least four tackles for loss in a game … Nine total QB pressures, according to PFF … vs. Colorado (Oct. 30): Three tackles and three quarterback hurries vs. the Buffaloes … vs. Washington State (Nov. 13): Swept the Pac-12 Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Week awards for the second time this season after an impressive showing vs. the Cougars … Notched six solo tackles and two sacks, his second multi-sack game of the season … vs. Utah (Dec. 3): Finished with three tackles and one sack, giving him 4.5 in three career Pac-12 Championship Games.
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
» Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week (Week 16)
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 … Added three pass breakups … at No. 13 USC (Dec. 18): Earned Pac-12 Championship Game MVP honors after 12 QB hurries, 2.0 tackles for loss and a third-down sack in the third quarter … Had a TFL on a fourth down play in the first quarter … The 12 QB pressures were the most by a Pac-12 player in 2020, according to PFF.
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 … Named Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week … at USC (Nov. 2): Returned home to L.A. with 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack … vs. Arizona (Nov. 16): Made a season-high 3.0 tackles for loss, highlighted by a pair of fourth-quarter sacks … vs. Utah (Dec. 6): Set the Pac-12 Championship Game record with 2.5 sacks, which all came in the fourth quarter, and added five tackles … Became the first player to ever block a punt in the championship game.
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.
