Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux "playing free" in Tim DeRuyter's defense

Kayvon Thibodeaux has molded his game in the form of the destructive pass-rushers he grew up idolizing.

Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Khalil Mack are all players he draws inspiration from, and he devoted his offseason to perfecting the intricate details that will, he hopes, enable him to have the same type of devastating impact those three superstars have had.

Thibodeaux is candid about the lofty goals he has set; at Oregon’s August media day, he said he expects “perfection” from himself this season. If that is indeed the case, he will have to achieve it at a new position, in a new defensive scheme and under a new defensive coordinator.

Saturday’s season-opener against Fresno State will provide the first true look at Thibodeaux operating within the parameters of Tim DeRuyter’s defense, and provide some insight as to how Oregon’s first-year defensive coordinator plans to get the most out of his superstar sophomore.

“I feel like the best teachers know how to teach anyone,” Thibodeaux said Wednesday. “I say that to say that coach DeRuyter has done a great job with not only making it simpler for some, but also teaching the whole defense to the ones who can pick it up faster.

“He’s done a great job with me, personally. Just showing me the back end and the front end and how they work together.”

Exceeding expectations

Accolades have been rolling in for Thibodeaux all month. He is a consensus preseason All-American and a lock to go in the top-5 of next year’s NFL Draft. He has signed NIL deals with Nike, United Airlines and eBay.

Simply put, he is one of the most marketable stars in all of college football.

But none of that will amount to much if he doesn’t deliver the type of production that is expected of elite pass rushers.

It sounds as though DeRuyter may be the ideal coach to help him succeed in that regard.

“He really has a plan for everything, Thibodeaux said of DeRuyter. “Just being able to see how that works in a game, and allowing us to go out there and play free, I feel like that’s to our advantage.”

DeRuyter said that as camp went on, and as players became more and more comfortable in their roles, the physicality of Oregon’s play skyrocketed. That’s a great sign for a group that is adjusting to a new scheme.

Oregon provided a brief glimpse of what Thibodeaux’s role might look like during the opening scrimmage of preseason camp. He lined up exclusively at the Joker linebacker spot and likely will continue to do so all season. That is, if all goes according to plan.

The pressure is on DeRuyter this fall. For 2021 to be deemed a success, the Ducks must get the most out Oregon’s entire nucleus of talented players.

It is a challenge that he is welcoming with open arms.

“I think anywhere you go, if you want to hold yourself to a standard, you’re going to feel pressure,” DeRuyter said Monday. “You look at the talent we have — I feel pressure everyday to challenge those guys and make sure we’re getting the absolute best out of them so that I can do a service to them.

“But I don’t change the person who I am; there’s pressure everywhere you. … If our best guys are playing the fastest, then we’re doing the right things.”

Kiper tabs Thibodeaux No. 1

Early Monday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released an updated version of his 2022 NFL Draft rankings.

Fixed at the top of those rankings? None other than Thibodeaux.

Kiper Jr. noted that Thibodeaux has a chance to be the first non-quarterback drafted No. 1 overall since 2017. Myles Garrett went first that year, and Kiper Jr. believes Thibodeaux can have a similar impact.

“Thibodeaux. … is an elite pass-rushing talent with the quickness and bend to get double-digit sacks annually at the next level,” Kiper Jr. wrote.

A handful of Oregon players showed up elsewhere in Kiper Jr.’s rankings.

He tabbed Alex Forsyth as the No. 9 draft-eligible center. Kiper also listed Mykael Wright as the No. 7 cornerback, and Karsten Battles as the No. 10 long-snapper.