As the college season winds down we will be covering game changing and game breaking prospects that will be entering the NFL Draft this year. It’s always a joy scouting players and projecting the impact they will have on Sundays. We have a very special treat for our readers today. Make sure you check out our previous installment of “Game Breakers and Game Changers”
A player.
An Edge Rusher.
He plays for a prestigious university.
He missed a large portion of the 2020 season.
He has 19 career sacks.
He stands 6’5 and over 250 pounds.
He is highly regarded as a top three pick in this coming NFL draft.
If you guessed I was talking about Kayvon Thibodeaux you would be correct.
If you guessed I was talking about Aidan Hutchinson… you’d also be correct.
We are very fortunate to be able to cover two supremely talented player like these guys. They both have game wrecking potential at the next level. Putting aside the chance of a quarterback making a major push up the board; one of the two will be the first overall pick in 2022.
The only question is who will it be? Today we’re going to break down both of these guys to see who is more deserving of having their name called first this coming April.
Kayvon Thibodeaux
Position: Edge
School: Oregon
Class: Junior
Size: 6’5 258lbs
Bio:
Kayvon Thibodeaux comes with a strong pedigree. He was the number one high school recruit in 2019 according to ESPN. An absolute monster coming out of Oaks Christian High School, he racked up 18 sacks and 5 forced fumbles in his senior year.
His game translated from the moment he stepped foot in Eugene, Oregon. As a freshman he registered 9 sacks and 14 TFL. His impact was rewarded with a Morris Trophy, as well as spots on the All-PAC12 and All-American teams.
His sophomore season was affected by the pandemic, only playing in 7 games. While his sack numbers were down to only 3, he became a much better run defender registering 42 tackles in only 7 games. His drop off in sacks can also be attributed to the added attention he was getting at the line of scrimmage, constantly drawing double teams.
Coming into this season he was at, or near the top of everyone’s big board. Widely regarded as the best prospect in this draft, he answered the bell. Despite missing three games to injury and having to work through double teams, Thibodeaux still excelled. In 10 games Thibodeaux put up 7 sacks, 49 tackles, 12 of them for a loss and had two forced fumbles.
His play this season did nothing to diminish his draft stock. If anything he improved on his already high stock. He was constantly around the play and shined for The Ducks game after game. He would still be the clear cut favorite to be the first pick if it wasn’t for his contemporary playing in Ann Arbor.
Strengths:
•Explosive first step
Thibodeaux has one of the quickest first steps I’ve ever seen. He will almost always beat his assignment to the spot.
•Long arms
He uses that explosive first step in conjunction with his long arms. He rarely lets opposing lineman get inside of his pads. Combining those arms with his strong run defense, he is able to control the line of scrimmage and flow of the play.
•Impressive bend
For a guy standing over 6’5 he can get low with the best of them. When he dips his shoulder and turns the corner it’s very hard to get a hand on him
•Run defense
You don’t expect a wiry pass rushing specialist to be great against the run, but Thibodeaux has shown improvement yearly. When he gets a hand on a ball carrier, he is making a play. He’s really got a nose for the football.
Weaknesses:
•Strength
Thibodeaux doesn’t have much bulk on his young frame. While he has reportedly gained about 15 pounds during his time in Eugene, he could serve to add a few more; especially if he’s asked to play in a 4-3 scheme.
•Discipline
You want your defenders to ooze aggression and a verve for physicality. Thibodeaux is 100% effort 100% of the time. But his high motor and burst off the line will cause him to jump offsides on occasion.
•Pass rush moves
When you are as much of an athletic freak as Thibodeaux is, you can normally win comfortably. if he can’t bull-rush through you, he can easily use his speed and bend to go around you. One downside of that is he hasn’t developed much of a signature or secondary move. He has a beautiful spin move but often opts to win with his natural length and speed.
https://youtu.be/_p2McW4hNG0
Aidan Hutchinson
Position: Edge
School: Michigan
Class: Senior
Size: 6’5 265lbs
Bio:
Aidan Hutchinson earned it the hard way. Unlike Thibodeaux he wasn’t the number one recruit in the country. He wasn’t the number one edge rusher in his class. According to ESPN300 he was the 193rd ranked player in the 2018 class. Being ranked outside of the top 100 despite putting up a pair of sacks in the 2018 Army All-American Game, must’ve put a chip on the young mans shoulder.
After receiving offers from programs such as LSU, Wisconsin, and Michigan State he decided to attend his fathers alma mater Michigan. Taking of the challenge of filling his dads shoes (All-American and team captain) was a tall task, but his road wouldn’t get any easier.
Hutchinson didn’t ascend immediately after arriving on campus, the same way Thibodeaux did. He was buried on the depth chart behind future NFL edge rushers Kwity Paye, Chase Winovich, and Rashan Gary. Despite seeing limited action as a true freshman, you could see he was brimming with potential.
After the departure of Winovich and Rashan Gary, he had a chance to show the world his game. While he didn’t put up flashy sack numbers, registering only 4.5; he showed the ability to line up at multiple spots in the defensive front. He was a menace against the run game with 68 total tackles 10 of them for a loss.
Hopes were high for Hutchinson heading into his junior year, cemented as the starting defensive end. Those hopes were dashed early in the third game of the year. He went down with an ankle injury and never returned. At the time of his injury he had 15 tackles along with a pair of quarterback hurries and a pass deflection. His season may have been cut short, but his showing in limited game time cemented him as a top 50 prospect.
Everything came together this past season as a senior. From start to finish Hutchinson was a man amongst boys. He needed to be accounted for at all times during a game. Sliding inside, standing up in a 2 point stance, or on the edge with a hand in the dirt; Hutchinson balled out.
As the season progressed so did his stock. 58 tackles, 15.5 for a loss, 14 sacks, and a trip to the college football playoffs made him the Heisman runner-up. All of this sent him from a fringe first round pick to a top 3 lock.
Strengths
•Versatility
As mentioned, Hutchinson is an incredibly versatile player. He can wreck a game from multiple positions. He has the power to rush from the inside or stuff the run, he has the speed and bend to get home lined up outside. Throughout his college career he has taken snaps at OLB, base end, 4i, 3T, and even in a 0T
•Strength
Hutchinson is strong as an ox. It shows up constantly in his tape. He gets consistent push on his bull rushes and uses that frame to shed blocks and pursue the ball carrier. His hands are like stones, slamming into the chest of a prospective blocker. He occasionally rag dolls lesser opponents, tossing them aside with relative ease.
•Pass rushing refinement
If you’re looking for a polished edge rusher you won’t find one much better than Hutchinson. He uses a variety of techniques throughout a game, keeping offensive lineman on their toes. He has the classic spin move, rip and dip, and my personal favorite hard jab step outside with a quick swim back inside. He uses his hands better than anyone in this class, finding crafty ways to disengage from his blocker and find the ball. While he isn’t a speed rusher, his first step and ability to get low make him hard to handle rushing out of the 7T or 9T.
•Run defense
For somebody who put up 14 sacks, he is an excellent run defender. He has the power to set his feet and sit down in running lanes, while possessing the burst to penetrate the line of scrimmage and make a tackle in the backfield. His discipline and pure strength doesn’t allow lineman to get into the second level. So even when he is not making the play himself he is allowing his linebackers to get downhill unmolested to make a tackle.
•Motor
Hutchinson is all effort all the time. He never gives up on a play, even on the rare occasion he is blocked out of it. On more than one occasion he has chased down the quarterback or ball carrier from the backside. He seemingly never stops moving his feet from snap to whistle. That high motor is a key to success in the NFL. A lot of guys take a play off when play is going away from them, but the great ones are always in pursuit.
Weaknesses :
I really hate mailing it in on any part of these reports, but I haven’t seen one glaring weakness to his game. Of course guys can always improve in ways. Add a move, add some strength, lose a bad habit. But overall there is nothing of note that would stand out as a red flag. He is arguably the best pass rushing prospect to enter the draft in 10 years. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a Chandler Parsons level impact his rookie year and become a perennial DPOY contender.