Report: Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux Won't Play vs. Ohio State with Ankle Injury
Sep 11, 2021
EUGENE, OREGON - SEPTEMBER 04: Defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux #5 of the Oregon Ducks gets set at the line of scrimmage during the first quarter of the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Autzen Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won 31-24. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Oregon superstar defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux reportedly won't play Saturday against Ohio State.
Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports and Bruce Feldman both reported that Thibodeaux would not suit up against the Buckeyes after having little participation in practice throughout the week.
Thibodeaux left last week's 31-24 win over Fresno State with an ankle injury and did not return.
Oregon vs. Ohio State is one of the biggest games on the college football slate Saturday, as the No. 12 Ducks are looking to pull off the road upset against the No. 3 Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Thibodeaux, a 20-year-old junior, has shown flashes of dominance during his young collegiate career.
In 13 games as a true freshman in 2019, he finished with 35 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, nine sacks and one forced fumble. He followed that up with 42 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in just seven games last season.
Thibodeaux looked good last week before getting injured as well with two tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and one forced fumble.
The Los Angeles native was rated a 5-star prospect and the No. 2 overall recruit in the nation by 247Sports when he arrived at Oregon as part of the class of 2019.
Thibodeaux seemed poised to have a career year in 2021 and truly establish himself as the top edge-rusher in the country, but it appears as though he won't have the opportunity to showcase his ability against one of the best teams in college football Saturday.
Beating OSU on the road was already going to be a massive challenge for Oregon, especially after the Ducks barely hung on to beat Fresno State last week.
Without Thibodeaux in the lineup, Ohio State freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud should have plenty of time to throw on the heels of tossing four touchdown passes in last week's win over Minnesota.
Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux's Injury vs. Fresno State Diagnosed as Foot, Ankle Sprain
Sep 4, 2021
EUGENE, OREGON - MAY 01: Kayvon Thibodeaux #5 of the Oregon Ducks looks on in the third quarter during the Oregon spring game at Autzen Stadium on May 01, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Oregon Ducks star defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux came off the field with an ankle injury during his team's season-opening victory against Fresno State on Saturday, 31-24.
The elite NFL prospect appeared to roll his ankle in the first half. He did not return after halftime and was seen sporting a walking boot on the sidelines.
Head coach Mario Cristobal told reporters after the win that X-rays came back negative and he doesn't believe the injury is too serious.
#Oregon coach Mario Cristobal says star DE Kayvon Thibodeaux sprained his ankle/foot. X-rays negative and Cristobal doesn't think the injury is too serious.
Pro Football Focus ranked Thibodeaux the No. 3 overall prospect in his year's NFL draft class. The Athletic's Dane Brugler, meanwhile, has Thibodeaux as the No. 2 prospect and placed some exceptionally high praise upon him:
Thibodeaux arrived in Eugene with massive expectations and he has yet to disappoint. He is a springy athlete with length and power and although he is still learning how to string together his moves, most blockers have a tough time dealing with his natural tools. I don't quite put him on that Chase Young-level yet as an NFL prospect, but it wouldn't surprise me if he is there by season's end.
Oregon entered Week 1 as the No. 11 team in the country and is guaranteed to move up in the rankings following No. 10 North Carolina's loss to Virginia Tech on Friday.
If Thibodeaux is forced to miss any time, one of the top Pac-12 programs will have to navigate high expectations without arguably its best player available. There may not be a player in Eugene capable of replacing him.
That would likely require Cristobal to adjust his schemes to cover for Thibodeaux's absence.
College football returns with a vengeance this week after a less-than-exciting Week 0 slate, and the Week 1 schedule is loaded with good matchups. The highlight is the showdown between No...
5-Star OL Kelvin Banks Commits to Oregon over Texas, Texas A&M, More
Jul 4, 2021
Kelvin Banks, a 5-star offensive tackle prospect in the class of 2022, has chosen to attend Oregon and announced the news Sunday on Twitter:
Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports added more insight on the commitment.
Oregon reels in five-star OL Kelvin Banks… Mario Cristobal goes into Texas and lands the No. 14 player in the country and he keeps cranking up the talent level in Eugene.
The 6'5", 300-pound Banks fielded 24 offers, per 247Sports, including ones from Oklahoma, Texas and Alabama.
He ranks 14th overall on 247Sports' composite list of the best class of 2022 football recruits. Banks is also second overall among offensive tackles and fifth on the list of Texas prospects.
The Summer Creek High School (Houston) star committed to Oklahoma State in Sept. 2019, and he talked about his commitment in a video for Dave Campbell's Texas Football in Feb. 2020:
That video also shows some highlights of Banks putting in work on the field, and you can view more of Banks in action with this Hudl tape of his junior year.
Gabe Brooks, 247Sports' Midlands region recruiting analyst, called Banks a future second-round NFL draft prospect and gave him the following write-up in June 2020:
"Virtually college-ready size with a bit more added bulk. Good height and length and wears his mass well. Plays left tackle and right tackle for high school team and could project to the outside or slide inside in college. Shows impressive strength at the point of attack. Punchy with some hand suddenness in the phone booth. Pulls very well and crunches targets as a down blocker.
"Adequate pad level at the LOS but plays a bit high at the second level. Foot quickness can improve. Big, long obstacle in pass pro who forces rushers wide around the arc, but can play with better agility. Occasionally heavy-footed, especially in pass pro. Among the top offensive line prospects in Texas and the country for the 2022 class. Projects to high-major level with long-term early-round NFL Draft potential."
Banks looked like he would be a future stud lineman for the Cowboys, but he announced in June 2020 that he was decommitting:
I will be decommiting from Oklahoma State University. I just want to make sure that I am making the right decision for me and my family for the future. @Perroni247
— Kelvin Banks Jr🎸 (@Kelvinbanksjr12) July 13, 2020
He later revealed his list of 14 finalists, which included Oklahoma State, in January 2021:
That group also consisted of Utah, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Auburn, Oregon, LSU, Houston and Alabama.
In the end, Banks chose Oregon, which should benefit from his excellent run- and pass-blocking potential at the next level. Banks could be the next great Oregon offensive lineman in the footsteps of ex-Duck great Penei Sewell, who went No. 7 overall to the Detroit Lions in the 2020 NFL draft.
Robby Ashford, Team Fighting Ducks Beat Mighty Oregon in 2021 Oregon Spring Game
May 2, 2021
The Oregon logo is seen before an NCAA college football game between Washington State and Oregon Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)
Heading into 2021, the Oregon Ducks will have plenty of options under center.Â
Three different quarterbacks threw for at least 100 yards in the team's spring game, with Robby Ashford finishing the job with a successful two-point conversion as the clock wound down to lead Team Fighting Ducks (the offense) to a 35-34 win over Mighty Oregon (the defense).Â
The team's spring practice finale used traditional scoring for the offense, while the defensive unit was awarded points for gaining possession via turnovers or takeaways.
Even though fans were not permitted at the game because Lane County is considered to be a region at "extreme risk" amid the COVID-19 pandemic, things got started with the traditional flyover.
The fighter jet flyover of an empty stadium seems...practical.
We've gotten multiple calls regarding frightening sounds heard in the Eugene area. The sounds were the fighter jets flying over the University of Oregon's Spring football game at Autzen stadium.
Senior Anthony Brown, who transferred to Oregon after two seasons at Boston College, posted 230 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-29 passing. Jay Butterfield, who is looking to see his first game action this season after using a redshirt in 2020, was good for 118 yards and a touchdown pass while completing six of his nine attempts.
But freshman Robby Ashford, who also utilized a redshirt last season, was the hero as the defense came crawling back after the break. With the game on the line, Ashford found classmate Dont'e Thornton for the touchdown to get Team Fighting Ducks within one, then ran the two-point winner in himself.
No idea how much quarterback Robby Ashford is going to play at Oregon, but if he isn't ever a fun athlete to watch. Scrambles for the two-point there to end this scrimmage.
Final score: Doesn't matter. 15 spring practice up, 15 down.
On the receiving end of things, Troy Franklin led with 93 yards, grabbing four of five balls that came his way. Thornton ended the afternoon with 89 yards on three receptions, though he also had a team-high six targets.Â
Aaron Smith starred on the run, with 56 yards and a score.Â
Defensively, freshman safety Marko Vidackovic impressed with a team-high seven tackles. Jaylin Davis and Justin Flowe each posted five, while Flowe was one of nine players who recorded a sack in the outing.Â
Butterfield connects with Franklin for a NICE pick up.
Wow.. Troy Franklin man.. That's some SERIOUS speed. #GoDucks
The Ducks open the season on Sept. 4 at home, hosting Fresno State.Â
Oregon Spring Game 2021: Top Storylines and Prospects to Watch
Apr 30, 2021
Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal celebrates after winning the an NCAA college football game for the Pac-12 Conference championship against Southern California Friday, Dec 18, 2020, in Los Angeles. Oregon won 31-24. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Oregon Ducks have set a high standard in Mario Cristobal's short period as head coach.
Cristobal led the Ducks to back-to-back New Years' Six berths and a 25-9 record in three full seasons, but as he enters the 2021 season, he faces a familiar problem.Â
Last year's starting quarterback, Tyler Shough, transferred to Texas Tech, which opened the door for Boston College transfer Anthony Brown to lock in that position.
Even though Brown is the clear front-runner to start in Week 1, he will be under the most scrutiny during Saturday's Spring Game.Â
There is only so much the coaching staff can take away from the exhibition, but this will be one of the first glimpses fans will get to see Brown throw in an Oregon jersey.Â
If Brown shines in the conclusion to spring practice, it will generate more excitement ahead of the 2021 campaign that features a Week 2 trip to Ohio State.
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Top Storylines
What Does Anthony Brown Look Like Under Center?Â
Brown has had a full year to work into the offense run by Joe Moorhead.Â
Saturday will be one of the first long spells of play in which Brown gets to showcase his talents in a Ducks jersey.Â
Moorhead told The Athletic's Tyson Alger that he is excited to work with Brown in a full capacity this season.Â
"He's a guy who's played a lot of football," Moorhead said. "He's a guy who's extremely intelligent and has a lot of ability as a thrower and as a runner. It's not like this is a guy that we brought in and hadn't played elsewhere. He had 50 touchdowns on his resume and a bunch of passing yards and a lot of wins—a lot of big wins, at that."Â
Brown did not produce eye-popping numbers at Boston College. He had one 2,000-yard season and he threw for 20 touchdowns in 2018. But his output was limited because the Eagles struggled to find success during his time inside the program.
If Moorhead unlocks Brown's potential in the air and on the ground, he could give Oregon an edge in certain games where an experienced quarterback is needed, like the Week 2 clash with Ohio State.
Brown is expected to receive most of the starting quarterback snaps on Saturday. Although he will be running a limited offense, as everyone does in spring games, he has a chance to show off his athleticism in Moorhead's scheme.
   Â
Noah Sewell's Progression As Defensive Leader
Noah Sewell could be one of the meanest defenders to grace a college football field in 2021.Â
He made it clear during his recent press availability that no one was going to stand in his way, per Alger.
"That person across from you, I'm pursuing my dreams, and he's the only one stopping me from pursuing my dreams," Sewell said.Â
The younger brother of the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft will be thrust into a larger leadership role in 2021 alongside defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Sewell will be working in a new system under defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, so it will be worth watching how he lines up and how close he gets to the quarterback.
Sewell will not be able to enforce his power on the Oregon quarterbacks, but he will provide the offensive line with a test on every snap.Â
If he shows progression in the only chance people get to view Oregon's spring practice, the buzz will only grow for how much of an impact he will make in 2021.
   Â
Top Prospects To Watch
Ty Thompson, QBÂ
It is natural for anyone's attention to go straight to the quarterback, especially one who comes in with a ton of potential.
Ty Thompson had the second-best rating of any Oregon recruit in the class of 2021, per 247Sports, and he is in contention for the backup role behind Brown.
Thompson is competing with Jay Butterfield and Robby Ashford for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.Â
The early enrollee will not have an otherworldly performance because of his limited snaps and the nature of the Spring Game, but it is worth noting how he handles himself in the pocket.Â
If Thompson displays enough composure and flashes chemistry with his wide receivers, he could do enough to move himself up the depth chart entering the summer.Â
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Justin Flowe, LB
Justin Flowe may not appear much on Saturday, but if he gets a chance to play, he could draw the most attention of any defensive player outside of Sewell.Â
Flowe was one of the top recruits in the class of 2020, but he suffered a season-ending injury in his first season.Â
The linebacker has worked his way back to practice and could have a massive impact alongside Sewell throughout the 2021 campaign.Â
If Flowe returns from his knee injury in top shape, Oregon could make a case to have the toughest defense in the Pac-12.Â
If anything, the linebacker room would be incredibly deep with himself, Sewell and a handful of others competing for playing time.Â
Again, he may not see a ton of snaps since he recently returned to practice, but given his stature as a five-star recruit, he is worth watching any time he steps on the gridiron.
Penei Sewell Impresses at Oregon Pro Day with Bengals, Dolphins in Attendance
Apr 2, 2021
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell (58) looks on as Oregon plays Auburn in an NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas. The last NFL event not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic was the 2020 combine in Indianapolis. A year later, with the 2021 combine canceled, the league has released a list of players who would have merited invitations. From such high-profile quarterbacks as Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields to guys who sat out last season such as Oregon tackle Penei Sewell, there are 323 players from 100 schools. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File)
Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who could be the first offensive lineman off the board in the 2021 NFL draft later this month, participated in his pro day on Friday in Eugene, Oregon.
As is often the case with linemen, Sewell's measurables were of particular interest Friday, and Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy provided a rundown of them:
🚨BREAKING: Official measurements on Oregon OL Penei Sewell:
A height of nearly 6'5" and weight of 331 pounds are ideal, while an arm length of 33ÂĽ inches is a bit below what teams might normally look for in an NFL offensive tackle.
Samuel Gold of The Athletic expressed concern regarding whether that might impact Sewell's draft stock:
Wonder if Penei Sewell's arm length will affect his draft stock? Usually 34+ inches is what people look for in offensive tackles. https://t.co/1rV3lWJb3z
The measurement may not be as big of a concern as usual, though, since Sewell's closest competition in the 2021 draft, Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater, has even shorter arms at 33 inches, per Nick Falato of Sports Illustrated.
Sewell also took part in all of the drills Friday and turned in some impressive numbers, especially considering his size.
Nagy ran down Sewell's results in the vertical jump, broad jump and bench press:
Oregon OL Penei Sewell with 28.0 VJ, 9-1 BJ, and 30 BP reps.
Sewell was clocked at 5.09 seconds in the 40 and 7.80 seconds in the three-cone, which are numbers that should help his stock considering he weighed in at over 330.
ESPN's Mina Kimes was especially impressed with the agility Sewell displayed in the three-cone drill:
There likely wasn't much Sewell could have done Friday to make his draft stock change drastically either way, as NFL teams have seen plenty of tape showcasing his dominant collegiate performances at Oregon.
Sewell did not play in 2020 after opting out amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but he was a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Outland Trophy as well.
His college head coach, Mario Cristobal, provided Bisciotti with a glowing review of Sewell too:
Coach Cristobal tells me Penei Sewell is not only the best lineman he’s ever seen. He’s undoubtedly the best PLAYER he’s ever been around.
After watching Sewell perform Friday, Trevor Sikkema of The Draft Network was among those who did not change their positive opinions of the talented lineman:
I am very excited to announce to the public that, following his pro day, Penei Sewell is still good.
Many NFL talent evaluators were on hand Friday to get a closer look at Sewell and his Oregon teammates, including representatives from teams picking early in the draft that could benefit from selecting him.
Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer noted that Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, director of player personnel Duke Tobin and offensive line coach Frank Pollack were all present:
Zac Taylor, Duke Tobin and Frank Pollack are all at Oregon's pro day watching Penei Sewell. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. #Bengals
Albert Breer of The MMQB added that Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores was also in attendance for the pro day. Breer reported that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn were other notable coaches in Eugene.
The Bengals own the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 draft and the Dolphins are at No. 6. While many teams picking near the top of the draft are in need of a quarterback, the Bengals and Dolphins aren't part of that group, as they took Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively, in last year's draft.
Both Burrow and Tagovailoa could benefit from offensive weapons, as well as offensive linemen to protect them, which is why Sewell is a potential target for both teams.
Mario Cristobal, Oregon Agree to New 6-Year, $27.3M Contract Amid Auburn Rumors
Dec 17, 2020
Oregon coach Mario Cristobal walks along the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
The University of Oregon and head football coach Mario Cristobal agreed to a six-year, $27.3 million contract extension Thursday, according to Tyson Alger of The Athletic.
Per Matt Prehm of 247Sports, the extension will run through the 2026 season and was officially approved by the University of Oregon Board of Trustees.
Prior to the extension, Cristobal was named by AL.com's Tom Green, Matt Zenitz and John Talty as a candidate for the Auburn head coaching job. AL.com reported that Cristobal was interested in the Auburn opening following the firing of Gus Malzahn.
Cristobal is in the midst of his third full season as head coach at Oregon. Overall, he has accrued a 24-9 record, and he led the Ducks to bowl games in both 2018 and 2019.
Oregon is just 3-2 this season while playing a shortened Pac-12 schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the modest record, the Ducks will face undefeated USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday.
The Ducks are a replacement for Washington, which cannot play for the Pac-12 title because of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing within the program.
Last season, Oregon posted its best record under Cristobal and its best overall record since 2014. With current Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert under center, the Ducks went 12-2 and beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
Prior to his time at Oregon, Cristobal was head coach at Florida International for six seasons from 2007-12.
The Panthers went just 1-11 in their first season under Cristobal, but they steadily improved and finished with a winning record and appeared in bowl games in both 2010 and 2011.
Cristobal was then assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Alabama from 2013-16 before becoming offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Oregon in 2017.
After Willie Taggart was fired as head coach at Oregon, Cristobal was named interim head coach and coached one game under that tag before getting promoted to the full-time gig.
Oregon experienced a bit of a downturn for a couple of years, but the 50-year-old Cristobal has the Ducks back in the mix as perennial Pac-12 title contenders.
Oregon Replaces Washington in 2020 Pac-12 Title Game, Will Face USC
Dec 14, 2020
Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough carries the ball during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. Oregon won 43-29. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Oregon will replace Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Saturday against USC, the conference announced Monday:
The decision comes amid an outbreak of COVID-19 within the Washington football team, leaving the program short of the minimum 53 players needed to compete.
Washington was also forced to cancel last week's scheduled game against Oregon because of the coronavirus, pausing team-related activities Wednesday before making the decision to cancel one day later. The game would have decided the Pac-12 North Division, but as a no-contest, Washington (3-1) got the title spot over Oregon (3-2).
The Ducks will now compete for a conference title despite losses in their last two games.
The game is even bigger for USC, which at 5-0 is one of only four Power Five conference teams without a loss.
Despite the Trojans making few headlines during the majority of the season, ESPN Stats & Information gives the school the fourth-best odds to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.Â
Washington's situation created some issues, however, with the Pac-12 initially providing no deadline to determine whether the team would be able to play in Saturday's game, per Jon Wilner of the Mercury News.
USC head coach Clay Helton noted the challenges of preparing for the game Monday:
Clay Helton says USC is preparing mostly for Washington, particularly early in the week and coaches will prep for Oregon each night then more later in the week as necessary.
The team now has a set opponent as it tries to win its first Pac-12 championship since 2017. Oregon won the conference title last year with a 37-15 victory over Utah.
Oregon Cancels Football Practice After 5 Positive COVID-19 Tests
Oct 24, 2020
Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal watches the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. Oregon won 24-10. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
The Oregon football team canceled Saturday activities after five individuals within the program tested positive for COVID-19, per James Crepea of The Oregonian.
Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal provided comments on the results:
"They're all asymptomatic, as normal as can be and they're all in isolation and working with the medical staff and local health to make sure that all protocol is followed. It has been to the 'T' since the beginning; it's the first time we've had positive antigen tests in our program. Also working with local health and our medical team with the contact tracing stuff, which is a little bit more thorough and I know they take a deeper dive into that."
Cristobal also told reporters that the entire Ducks team will be tested Sunday per the university's medical policy. The five individuals who tested positive will then undergo a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test before further decisions are made following those results.
Per Crepea, it is unclear whether the five individuals are players, staff members or a mix of both.
The Ducks were scheduled to hold their 14th fall camp practice and second fall scrimmage game.
Oregon is scheduled to play a six-game Pac-12 slate beginning Nov. 7 at home versus Stanford. The Pac-12 originally decided to postpone fall sports until the 2021 calendar year because of the COVID-19 pandemic but changed course and opted to go with a shortened, conference-only schedule in the late fall.
Other athletic conferences have forged ahead despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused numerous cancellations and postponements. Per the World Health Organization, a total of 72,342 new cases were confirmed in the United States on Saturday.
The Ducks are looking to continue the momentum built off last year's successful season that included a Pac-12 title, a Rose Bowl win and a No. 5 ranking in the final Associated Press poll to cap a 12-2 campaign.
Oregon is the top-ranked Pac-12 representative in this year's AP poll at No. 13.
