Kayvon Thibodeaux ‘hungry to be an elite football player’ as Oregon Ducks’ top defensive end

Oregon Ducks vs. Cal Bears

Mase Funa (#47) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (#5) as the Oregon Ducks host the California Golden Bears in an NCAA football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. Sean Meagher/Staff

With spring practice over the Oregonian/OregonLive is reviewing Oregon’s depth chart position by position. The 12th of a 25-part series looks at the defensive ends.

On the edge of Oregon’s defense it’s Kayvon Thibodeaux’s world and you don’t want to get in his way.

The former No. 1 recruit burst on the scene with 35 tackles, 14 for loss including nine sacks as a freshman and solidified his spot as Oregon’s top pass rusher and one of the most disruptive defenders in the Pac-12.

Considering the second half of the season is when Thibodeaux did most of his damage, the possibilities for his future production are seemingly limitless.

The depth chart behind him is going to shuffle though, as Gus Cumberlander is gone and DJ Johnson moved to offense.

Post-spring depth chart:

Kayvon Thibodeaux: 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, sophomore

Mase Funa: 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, sophomore OR

Austin Faoliu: 6-foot-3, 293 pounds, senior

Bradyn Swinson: 6-foot-4, 262 pounds, freshman OR

Jake Shipley: 6-foot-4, 284 pounds, freshman

Mario Cristobal’s take:

“He’s a different body type already. Last year he was in the 230s he’s hitting 250s and plus over there. He takes a lot of pride in what he does. Not just playing the game and getting sacks, but technique, using his hands playing the run, knocking back tight ends, knocking back tackles, getting signals from the sideline and passing down calls, making adjustments. Your tells and your tips. The guy’s hungry to be an elite football player and he’s going to do everything he can to get there. I think it starts with playing the big bodies now that he has become a big body as well.”

Kayvon Thibodeaux

Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) is sacked by Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during the second half of an NCAA college football game for the Pac-12 Conference championship in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, Dec. 6, 2018. Oregon won 37-15. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)AP

Starter:

Thibodeaux is a freak of nature. In his last six games, he has 24 tackles with 10.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks. That was against the likes of USC, Utah and Wisconsin.

He’s the only Oregon player in the last decade with two games of two or more sacks in a single season at Autzen Stadium.

In the 2022 NFL Draft, it won’t take Thibodeaux until the last pick in the fifth round to come off the board - that’s for sure.

Added weight will help him avoid getting knocked around by bigger tackles and endure double-teams with greater ease.

Thibodeaux is lethal when he can pin his ears back, but if he can progress in run stopping he could be among the best defensive ends in college football as a sophomore.

Oregon Ducks vs. Colorado Buffaloes

Freshman linebacker Mase Funa (#47) as the Oregon Ducks face the Colorado Buffaloes in a college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Sean Meagher/Staff

Co-backup:

Mase Funa was at Stud end last season. So why are we listing him at true defensive end, which is more of a true 4 or 5 technique than a 6 or 9? Because Funa lined up with his hand down on occasion last season, especially in instances when Thibodeaux wasn’t in, and because Andy Avalos can employ a variety of personnel for similar roles.

There is also more depth at Stud this season and Thibodeaux and Funa could end up rotating between the two roles.

Oregon post-spring depth chart analysis: QB | RB | X | Z | Slot/F | TE | LT | LG | C | RG | RT | Specialists | DE | DT | NT | Stud | WLB | MLB | SLB | BCB | BS | FS | FCB | Nickel | Dime

Austin Faoliu

Oregon Ducks defensive tackle Austin Faoliu (99) tries to tackle Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley during the first half of the Pac-12 Championship Game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Photo by Serena Morones)Serena Morones

Co-backup

Similar to Funa, Austin Faoliu is the top defensive tackle. But he’s played on the edge. With the depth the Ducks have on the inside, in certain run situations it would be prudent to go with a heavy package with Faoliu outside and a mix of Jordon Scott, Brandon Dorlus, Popo Aumavae and Kristian Williams inside.

Next wave:

In the truest sense, the backups to Thibodeaux might begin after other returning players and with those just beginning their careers.

Bradyn Swinson and Jake Shipley were among Oregon’s mid-year enrollees and got to take part in the four spring practices. In an early practice, Swinson was at end and Shipley was at tackle. Given their size it made sense but until there’s more time to evaluate how Avalos wants to utilize the freshman we’ll keep them on equal footing.

Summer arrivals:

Jaden Navarrette is the edge signee joining the team this summer and he’s built for the Stud position. Though again, because the two edges are so similar it’s not outside the realm of possibility for him to play end.

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