Oregon Football: 4-star DE Cyrus Moss is ideal Kayvon Thibodeaux replacement

Kayvon Thibodeaux has big goals for himself ahead of the 2021 season such as winning the Heisman and leading Oregon football to the playoff, but when it’s all said and done, he’ll be one of the top 2022 NFL Draft prospects in the country.

Thibodeaux is more than likely in his final season as a starting defensive end in Eugene after putting up some ridiculous numbers through his first two years.

NFL draft experts are already predicting that he’s going to take the nation by storm and go No. 1 overall in the 2022 process and that wouldn’t be all that shocking.

But it would hurt the Ducks’ outlook at defensive end moving forward.

Mario Cristobal has done a great job recruiting so the Ducks will find someone talented to replace him, but the perfect replacement might not even be in college yet.

It might actually be four-star defensive end Cyrus Moss from Bishop Gorman.

Moss is one of the top recruits in the entire 2022 class, ranked No. 53 nationally and as the fourth-best weak-side defensive end by the composite. But 247Sports is even higher on him, listing him as a borderline five-star as the No. 26 recruit in the country and third-best at the position.

One thing is for certain, however: he would be the ideal replacement for Thibodeaux.

Oregon football secures Moss visit

Although replacing Kayvon is probably going to be the toughest thing the program has had to do since trying to find Justin Herbert’s successor, Moss would be an instant candidate to start as a true freshman in the way Thibodeaux was.

Standing 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, 247Sports‘ Blair Angulo already predicts he will wind up in Eugene for college and even compared him to UCLA great Anthony Barr.

Like Thibodeaux, Moss has the ability to play as a stand-up linebacker and pass rusher which is something Kayvon has been trying to adjust to this offseason. He has great length and athleticism like Thibodeaux and his potential is through the roof.

Moss hasn’t even scratched the surface, but if he can emulate Thibodeaux’s game and if Oregon can land him after the official visit, the Ducks will be in good shape for a long time.