With Kayvon Thibodeaux, it's felt like a foregone conclusion for a long time. And now, he's a little over seven months away from it becoming a reality. He'll be the No. 1 pick in the draft. It's happening, people.
I'm a nice guy, but I have to be frank with the quarterback class -- it's blah. There's nothing remotely close to a sure thing. The preseason darlings have fallen short of massive expectations. And you have to really be talked into each of the perceived top prospects as first-round picks.
We're going to have a non-quarterback picked first overall for the first time since 2017, when Myles Garrett and his monstrous physique landed in Cleveland. And Thibodeaux gives me serious Garrett vibes. He's not quite Garrett as a prospect, but some of the things he does on the football field, when rushing the passer at his size, are absolutely Garrettian.
Check his first third-down rush of the game. Thibodeaux deployed a nasty straight arm after a quick in and out move, nearly driving the tackle through the quarterback. (right defensive end)
Serious power, and Thibodeaux didn't need a full head of steam to generate it. Crazy. How about the explosion and strength through two offensive linemen on this rush?
He was aligned at left defensive end and nearly tipped the pass because of the penetration he got on the play.
As if that wasn't an impressive enough demonstration of how much natural force Thibodeaux can generate, here's another example. Located at left defensive end again, Cal attempted to chip him with a tight end. Thibodeaux absorbed the block and transferred his burst into the right tackle, easily bulldozing him on his way to the quarterback, and he narrowly missed the sack.
What Thibodeaux did there is not supposed to happen on a chip.
In the fourth quarter, Thibodeaux showcased his ridiculous acceleration capabilities with one of the quickest wins I've ever seen in my life. If you re-watch this play, notice how the left tackle almost completely missed even seeing Thibodeaux as he erupted past him. (aligned at right defensive end)
Thibodeaux didn't utilize a legitimate pass-rushing move on the play. It was like a quasi swim or swipe. So fast, it was a hard to observe in real time, even with the ability to re-watch.
I've saved the best for last. With Cal close to tying the score in the waning seconds of the game, Thibodeaux again did something unthinkable. He was so fast off the line, he beat the offensive tackle's cut block attempt. Bananas. And, while Thibodeaux's speed did hinder the effectiveness of the cut, he was still contacted and was able to stay on his feet to close on the quarterback. (right defensive end)
Now, Thibodeaux needs to finish that play. Secure the sack. End the game. Cal got a few more cracks at the end zone that were ultimately unsuccessful, but the sheer athleticism required to pull off what he did at the outset of that play is legitimately awe-inspiring.
The most compelling element of Thibodeaux as a prospect -- he's not a finished product, just like Garrett when he entered the NFL. He'll need to devise pass-rushing plans on a more regular basis once he's a pro. But as the Oregon superstar demonstrated over and over against California, he's on another planet from a physical perspective. Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal will be his only competition to being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
And with good coaching, Thibodeaux can be a Garrett-esque game-wrecker at the next level.
