Potential No. 1 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux to declare for NFL draft, skip Oregon Ducks’ bowl game

Star Oregon defensive conclude Kayvon Thibodeaux reported Monday night time he will forgo his senior period and declare for the NFL draft.

Thibodeaux will not engage in in the Ducks’ bowl sport, a matchup in opposition to No. 16 Oklahoma in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29, and as a substitute will start out preparations for the draft, in which he could be picked with the major select.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Thibodeaux rated No. one all round in his newest Big Board. Fellow ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has him as the No. two-rated prospect in this year’s class.

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“Thank you for embracing a kid from South Central, Los Angeles and providing me the prospect to changeover into a gentleman completely ready to take on the planet,” Thibodeaux wrote as component of a submit on social media, in which he thanked “the College of Oregon, the town of Eugene, and Duck Nation for their unwavering support.”

The six-foot-five Thibodeaux was the Pac-12 defensive freshman of the year in 2019 and a 1st-staff All-Pac-12 collection final year following arriving at Oregon as the No. one-rated participant in the class of 2019. He performed ten game titles this period — an ankle harm slowed him early — and finished with seven sacks and forty nine overall tackles.

He is a finalist for the Bednarik Award and Bronco Nagurski Trophy.

Thibodeaux was also at the forefront of players’ potential to capitalize on their identify, image and likeness. He signed a handful of specials, like 1 with eBay, a further with United Airways and a six-determine memorabilia offer. Thibodeaux also launched an NFT in partnership with Nike founder Phil Knight and sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield that offered for $one hundred per unit. In September, Thibodeaux launched his own cryptocurrency termed $JREAM.

Thibodeaux’s early exit came on the exact day that Mario Cristobal still left Oregon to take the head-coaching situation at Miami.

Facts from ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti was employed in this report.