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Oregon Football: Top 3 breakout candidates for Ducks in 2021

By Dante Pryor

Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal, right, leads his team onto the field at Reser Stadium in Corvallis before the game against Oregon State.
Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal, right, leads his team onto the field at Reser Stadium in Corvallis before the game against Oregon State. /
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Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) is pressured by Oregon Ducks defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) in the second half during the Pac-12 Championship at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Oregon defeated USC 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) is pressured by Oregon Ducks defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) in the second half during the Pac-12 Championship at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Oregon defeated USC 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Kayvon Thibodeaux

OK, Kayvon Thibodeaux has technically already broken out, but we’ve barely seen him scratch the surface. That’ll happen in 2021.

Thibodeaux likely will not win the Heisman, but there is no reason the third-year player should not have a Warren Sapp, Ndamokung Suh-like season (not in terms of position but dominance) this season. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter sees Thibodeaux much like another freakish athlete he coached in the past, Von Miller.

According to DeRuyter, Thibodeaux is going to play all over the field. Expect to see the former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year play standing up on third and long, also blitzing from the middle of the field as well. It is not like Thibodeaux does not have the tools to do so.

Thibodeaux is a rare combination of both size and speed. What he can do on the field is only limited by DeRuyter’s imagination. DeRuyter can use Thibodeaux in various ways because of the stellar talent the Ducks have amassed defensively.

Then there is Thibodeaux himself. Many scouts believe Thibodeaux is not only the best player in the country, but he is also the prohibitive favorite to be the first pick in the upcoming draft, barring injury.

With Thibodeaux’s combination of natural talent and skill, coupled with DeRuyter’s scheme and the talent on defense, he is on track for a historic season defensively.

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