Oregon's Bradyn Swinson sets lofty goals for 2022; “I want 12 sacks”

There is no easy way to replicate what Kayvon Thibodeaux did for the Oregon defense last season. But that isn’t going to stop Bradyn Swinson from trying. 

Swinson, the Ducks’ sophomore defensive end, experienced a breakout season of sorts last fall. He tallied 24 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks in 11 games and delivered some of his biggest performances during Oregon’s biggest games. 

But as far as he’s concerned, that didn’t even scratch the surface of what he is capable of. 

Now, with Thibodeaux having departed for the NFL, Swinson is taking it upon himself to ensure Oregon’s pass-rush production moves forward, not backward, in 2022. 

“Personal goals for me this year? I want 12 sacks,” Swinson said at Oregon’s media day on Wednesday. “I want 12 sacks before the end of the season. I’m focused on us being No. 1 in the nation.” 

That might sound like wishful thinking for a player who fell well short of that mark a season ago. But good luck telling Swinson that. 

His early success last season instilled in him the belief that he could thrive at the Pac-12 level. Now, he’s ready to prove that he can do it on a weekly basis for an entire season.

“Last year, I didn’t have all the confidence that I have this year,” Swinson said. “Last year I was coming in like, ‘Am I ready for this?’ Not really playing the full game.

“But after the Ohio State game last year, it built my confidence up. … I believe in myself way more this year.”

In Oregon’s upset win over the No. 3-ranked Buckeyes in Columbus, Swinson delivered a breakthrough performance on a day the Ducks badly needed him. Thibodeaux was sidelined with an ankle injury, and few predicted Oregon would stand a chance without him.  

Swinson was a disruptive presence all afternoon, though, and finished the day with five tackles and a pivotal sack in the fourth quarter that helped seal the game for the Ducks. 

But he suffered a torn meniscus during that game and was sidelined for the next three weeks. 

Once he returned, Swinson wasn’t quite as effective as he was early in the year — partially due to the fact that Thibodeaux was fully healthy at that point and occupied most of the snaps at the “Joker” linebacker position.

Now, though, Swinson is going to get every possible opportunity to prove himself within Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi’s defense. 

While most of his reps have been at Jack and Sam linebacker thus far, Swinson said his versatility could be on display in 2022.

“You might see me everywhere this year,” he said with a smile. 

Swinson’s route to Oregon wasn’t as smooth as it was for many of his 4- and 5-star teammates. He didn’t receive a ton of recruiting buzz until late in his high school career and admits he sometimes had doubts that he would live up to his own expectations.

Now, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Swinson was asked Friday what, if anything, his current self would tell the 2021 version of himself. 

“Let’s say you look at me during my junior year of high school,” Swinson responded. “I was a low-rated three-star — I was looking for offers, searching for offers, just out here trying to have a chance to play college football.

“So, I would tell him, ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing.’ Just keep working. Because everything you’re doing is gonna pay off.”