Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Thibodeaux Named Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
11/11/21 | Football
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux has been selected as one of 15 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award, the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced on Thursday.
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The fourth-oldest college football award in the nation, the Walter Camp Player of the Year is voted on by the 130 FBS head coaches and sports information directors. Five finalists will be announced on December 2, and the winner will be revealed on ESPN's College Football Awards Show on December 9.
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Thibodeaux is one of two Pac-12 players among the 15 semifinalists, and one of four from the defensive side of the ball. He is one of just seven non-quarterbacks on the list.
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The Los Angeles native is the sixth player in program history to be named a semifinalist or better for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, and the first UO defensive player ever to be a semifinalist. Marcus Mariota became the first Duck to win the award in 2014, and Justin Herbert was Oregon's most recent semifinalist in 2019.
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Kayvon Thibodeaux – Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
» Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist
» No. 5 in the Pac-12 with 8.0 TFLs and tied for seventh with 4.0 sacks.
» No. 11 in pass-rush grade nationally among edge defenders by PFF (91.3).
» 28 total quarterback pressures and 18 hurries, according to PFF.
» No. 5 among Power 5 players with 31.5 TFLs since the start of 2019.
» Set career-highs with nine tackles and 4.5 TFLs in Oregon's win at UCLA.
» Also had 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble vs. the Bruins.
» One of two FBS players this season with at least four TFLs, two sacks and a forced fumble in a game.
» First Duck since 2007 to record at least nine tackles, four TFLs and two sacks in a game.
» First Duck since 2017 with at least four TFLs in a game.
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2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalists
LB Will Anderson – Alabama
QB Matt Corral – Ole Miss
DL Jordan Davis – Georgia
WR Jahan Dotson – Penn State
QB Sam Hartman – Wake Forest
RB TreVeyon Henderson – Ohio State
LB Devin Lloyd – Utah
QB Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh
QB Desmond Ridder – Cincinnati
QB C.J. Stroud – Ohio State
DE Kayvon Thibodeaux – Oregon
RB Kenneth Walker III – Michigan State
QB Caleb Williams – Oklahoma
QB Bryce Young – Alabama
QB Bailey Zappe – Western Kentucky
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Oregon All-Time Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalists
2002 – Onterrio Smith (Finalist)
2007 – Dennis Dixon (Finalist)
2011 – LaMichael James (Semifinalist)
2014 – Marcus Mariota (Winner)
2019 – Justin Herbert (Semifinalist)
2021 – Kayvon Thibodeaux (Semifinalist)
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The fourth-oldest college football award in the nation, the Walter Camp Player of the Year is voted on by the 130 FBS head coaches and sports information directors. Five finalists will be announced on December 2, and the winner will be revealed on ESPN's College Football Awards Show on December 9.
Â
Thibodeaux is one of two Pac-12 players among the 15 semifinalists, and one of four from the defensive side of the ball. He is one of just seven non-quarterbacks on the list.
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The Los Angeles native is the sixth player in program history to be named a semifinalist or better for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, and the first UO defensive player ever to be a semifinalist. Marcus Mariota became the first Duck to win the award in 2014, and Justin Herbert was Oregon's most recent semifinalist in 2019.
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Kayvon Thibodeaux – Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
» Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist
» No. 5 in the Pac-12 with 8.0 TFLs and tied for seventh with 4.0 sacks.
» No. 11 in pass-rush grade nationally among edge defenders by PFF (91.3).
» 28 total quarterback pressures and 18 hurries, according to PFF.
» No. 5 among Power 5 players with 31.5 TFLs since the start of 2019.
» Set career-highs with nine tackles and 4.5 TFLs in Oregon's win at UCLA.
» Also had 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble vs. the Bruins.
» One of two FBS players this season with at least four TFLs, two sacks and a forced fumble in a game.
» First Duck since 2007 to record at least nine tackles, four TFLs and two sacks in a game.
» First Duck since 2017 with at least four TFLs in a game.
Â
2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalists
LB Will Anderson – Alabama
QB Matt Corral – Ole Miss
DL Jordan Davis – Georgia
WR Jahan Dotson – Penn State
QB Sam Hartman – Wake Forest
RB TreVeyon Henderson – Ohio State
LB Devin Lloyd – Utah
QB Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh
QB Desmond Ridder – Cincinnati
QB C.J. Stroud – Ohio State
DE Kayvon Thibodeaux – Oregon
RB Kenneth Walker III – Michigan State
QB Caleb Williams – Oklahoma
QB Bryce Young – Alabama
QB Bailey Zappe – Western Kentucky
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Oregon All-Time Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalists
2002 – Onterrio Smith (Finalist)
2007 – Dennis Dixon (Finalist)
2011 – LaMichael James (Semifinalist)
2014 – Marcus Mariota (Winner)
2019 – Justin Herbert (Semifinalist)
2021 – Kayvon Thibodeaux (Semifinalist)
Players Mentioned
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