For the Ducks to be a contender, Kayvon Thibodeaux has to seize greatness

 A recent survey from 247 Sports named Kayvon Thibodeaux the best college football player in the country.

He's a certain early pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he's already signed a deal with Nike that pays him six figures.

Named to the Watch List for all the major defensive awards, Thibodeaux's sights are higher. He's said he wants to win the Heisman and rack up 20 sacks while winning a national championship.

A journalism major and media astute, the 6-5, 250 edge rusher/linebacker is just giving a hungry machine what it wants, but his devotion to his craft and high goals are 100% authentic. He's had this single-minded focus, plus the ability to articulate it, since high school.

Head coach Mario Cristobal told Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, "We feel he's the most disruptive player in college football. He'll be used as such." 

For Oregon to exceed the modest projections for the 2021 season, Thibodeaux has to realize all his promise, to achieve production equal to the well-deserved hype.