Kayvon Thibodeaux reflects on hearing name called in NFL Draft

The New York Giants got a haul in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, including Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with the No. 5 overall pick. Hearing your name called by the commissioner is a big moment for anyone, and it was no different for the latest New York star.

During his introductory press conference alongside fellow top 10 pick Evan Neal, Kayvon Thibodeaux reflected on hearing his name called by Roger Goodell during the NFL Draft.

“It’s just a blessing,” said Thibodeaux. “Your family puts in so much to get you here, seeing your mom, your family and all the sacrifices that they made. And now to be able to rejoice with them and really celebrate this moment.”

His focus on family and those who helped get him to this point in life continued throughout the duration of the press conference. As one of the most outspoken players in this year’s draft class he has developed large contingencies for and against him, but he has set the tone early for his approach.

Kayvon Thibodeaux’s bizarre prediction

In the course of answering questions, Thibodeaux shared this jaw-dropping story on why he predicted he would land with the Giants.

“You guys won’t believe this, alright, but I’m a big believer in God, and this is a testament to it,’ said Thibodeaux. “So, I got a tattoo, and the tattoo is five stripes; its tally marks. One, two, three, four, five — one (tally) across. And I got it because I have five friends that I knew that I was going to become successful, but when I really thought about it, it was more than five of us; so it really didn’t have a purpose. This was three years ago.

“And now I’ve been picked selected the fifth pick in the NFL draft by the New York Giants. So, to me, it’s just a testament of God and everything. The legacy that he bestowed in me just fell in line.”

During his time at Oregon, Thibodeaux finished seventh in program history with 19 sacks. Seven came during his final season while playing in 11 games. He was a disruptor elsewhere in the backfield as well, totaling 123 tackles, 35.5 tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles.

Thibodeaux has always been viewed as a highly rated prospect, dating back to his high school days. He was the top edge prospect, according to the On3 Consensus, in the 2019 class. The Five-Star Plus+ recruit was the No. 1 player from his home state of California and second overall in the country.