Who is Kayvon Thibodeaux ?

Kayvon Thibodeaux was acquired by the New York Giants this NFL draft. He was awarded USA Today's High School Football Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 before committing to the University of Oregon to continue his collegiate football career with the Ducks where he did nothing but raise the stranded and set the tone for his whole time there. In 2019, he was awarded the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, in 2020, he earned the Morris Trophy, and in 2021, he was voted unanimous as an All-American. The Giants selected him fifth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has accomplished so much but his story doesn't end here. 

Thibodeaux was born in South Los Angeles, California, on December 15, 2000. He played football for two years at Susan Miller Dorsey High School before transferring to Oaks Christian School in 2017. He was named the High School Football Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today after recording 18 sacks and 54 tackles during his senior season in 2018. Kayvon Thibodeaux was recruited as the top ranked player by ESPN and became the highest rated signee in Oregon history after committing to Oregon ahead of numerous offers. Shawnta Loice and Angelo Thibodeaux, his parents are also his managers and were instrumental in his decision to join the Ducks where he would go on and play the next chapter of his football life. 

Arriving in the summer of 2019 the bar was set high for the incoming 6-foot-5, 239-pound defensive end, out of Oaks Christian High School. Players of his size and with the gift of great athleticism are worth the hype and are always expected to perform. Thibodeaux has exceeded expectations in his first two years as a Duck, earning Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and becoming the first Oregon defensive lineman to receive All-America accolades since DeForest Buckner in 2015. He truly has left his impact in Oregon and is a generational player.

Finishing his college career he was ready to tackle the NFL and showcase his great mixture of athleticism and size to millions of fans. At the NFL combine he put on a show. Although he didn't do the very best he was for sure someone to keep your eye on. Analysts and recresues described him as “ Enticing edge defender whose game is fueled by traits and power over skill and instincts at this juncture of his career. Thibodeaux is hardly a finished product, but has pro-ready attributes that should help him acclimate quickly. He's a plus run defender who punches above his weight at the point of attack with heavy hands and a sturdy base. He has some suddenness in tight quarters and above-average pursuit speed, which should keep the tackles for loss rolling in throughout his career.” Although he isn't a “finished product'' he has huge potential in the NFL and aside from the flaws in his game no one can ignore his great attributes he can bring to any NFL roster. After watching the Combine I can definitely say he’s fueled by internal drive, he is long, strong and very explosive, Firm base makes it hard to redirect or wash him down once he's to an edge, Plays with effective use of length and upper-body power. After watching the combine and going over all of his accolades it wasn't hard to assume he was going to be selected in the top 10th picks of the 2022 draft. On April 28th the New York Giants selected Oregon Ducks defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. His story is still being told and hopefully it's not ending anytime soon.  The expectations are set high again and many are wondering will he be able to deliver again this time ?