Oregon Football: 5 reasons 5-star DE Kayvon Thibodeaux will commit

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EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jake Browning #3 of the Washington Huskies is hit by defensive lineman Austin Faoliu #99 of the Oregon Ducks as he passes the ball in the first half of the game at Autzen Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game 30-27. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

1. Chance to crack starting rotation right away

Oregon is set to lose a starting defensive end in Jalen Jelks to graduation but sophomore Austin Faoliu will hold down the other end spot. This leaves a spot open for a five-star like Kayvon Thibodeaux to come in and make an instant impact.

Thibodeaux is announcing his decision so he can sign in the early period and he plans on enrolling early which will only give him a better opportunity to crack the starting rotation with about eight months on campus before the first game. Early enrollees always have a leg up on the incoming freshmen who don’t get there until summer.

At Alabama, Thibodeaux would likely get some early playing time, but he’s battling it out with other four and five-star recruits who have already been on campus for a year or two and will hold down the No. 1 or No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

Brian Burns is leaving early for the NFL, leaving an open spot on the defensive line across from Joshua Kaindoh, but that will likely be Janarius Robinson’s.

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The Ducks give Thibodeaux the best chance to start right away and he will easily be one of the top performers on the line all season long.

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