WATCH: Kayvon Thibodeaux reflects on his first meeting with Ray Lewis

Kayvon Thibodeaux joined CBS Sports HQ on Friday to detail his first meeting with Ray Lewis, one of his football heroes.

"I felt like I had seen a father."

Kayvon Thibodeaux says meeting Ray Lewis was "surreal"@kayvont | @raylewis pic.twitter.com/tYRheveEpV

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) February 11, 2022

“So we’re sitting — I had this like, surreal moment. Where I wasn’t even supposed to be at this restaurant. And I just so happen to just turn around and I go. Something just told me to go. And then I’m sitting, hearing this guy talk and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m from Florida. Rada-rada-rada.’ And I’m like, ‘That’s Ray Lewis,'” recollected Thibodeaux. “And I just got a call the same day saying that we’re supposed to meet. We’re supposed to be here today.

“You know, I was telling him that the first shirt, the first NFL team that I had was the Baltimore Ravens. It was 2012, it was the Super Bowl, and I was watching them. It was so funny because when the lights shut off, I just knew and I felt that they were not going to come back. When I heard that Ray Lewis was retiring after that. I said there’s no way that Ray Lewis is going to let them do anything with this game. So be it, they ended up winning, and the legacy is what it is.

“But now it’s just like, being in this moment is so surreal. I felt like I seen a father. When I sat and I talked to him, I was like this is me, but he’s already done it. You know. So it was just so much wisdom, so much game and so much love and so much passion given. At that point I knew. It’s not just what you can give to the game. But what you can give to the others around you that take part in the game.”

More on Kayvon Thibodeaux, Ray Lewis

Evidently, Thibodeaux was inspired by the fantastic career of Lewis. The former Baltimore Ravens star possesses a long list of accolades, including being a Two-time Super Bowl champion, the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV and a Two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year recipient.

As the Oregon star readies for the draft, he’s hoping to have the impact the former Miami star did. Thibodeaux’s wide-eyed point of view is interesting to hear, and it’s obvious his opinion of the NFL encapsulates much more than simply football.

As April rolls around, Kayvon Thibodeaux will hope to have the impact on a franchise that Ray Lewis had on the Ravens. With his immense ability and impressive view on the game, whichever franchise drafts the Oregon star will be better for it.