The Oregon Ducks have one of the best up and coming defenses in college football. Even losing such a high caliber player such as senior linebacker Troy Dye to the NFL Draft, the cupboard is far from bare in Eugene. The Ducks have some super talented young pieces that they will build around and keep them in the hunt, for not only a PAC-12 Championship each year but a BCS Playoff spot as well. Let’s take a look at the stars that will carry this team over the next two to three years.
The Ducks began restocking their defense last season when they were able to get 5★★★★★ Kayvon Thibodeaux to commit and sign his National Letter of intent with them. He played for Oaks Christian Academy, in Thousand Oaks, California, where according to 247 Sports Composite, ranked second nationally and the top overall player in the state of California. Many scouts considered him the best player in the country. Either way, he was a superstar in the making. Thibodeaux chose Oregon over the likes of Alabama, Florida, and USC.
As a true freshman, Thibodeaux would prove he was ready to play with the big boys. He would play in all thirteen games for Oregon and would prove that he was their best pass rusher. For the season he would lead the team in sacks (9) and tackles for a loss (14) while adding 35 tackles, three PBUs, and one forced fumble.
Keep in mind he began the season at 6’5”, 245 lbs. Imagine what he’ll do now that he has had a year in the system, weight room and added mass? Thibodeaux has SEC talent playing in a far inferior conference. I expect him to dominate the PAC-12 as a sophomore in this upcoming season and be among the nation’s leading pass rushers and disrupters. He has game-changing skills, that will impact the game each week. He should easily be a double-digit sack guy and be among the nation’s leaders.
If you play in IDP devy or “Campus to Canton” leagues, then Thibodeaux is a must-own player. No matter what your league’s positional settings are (DE or EDGE) for him is, he is the #1 player at that position. Dynasty league owners better write his name down and plan on drafting him early. At this stage of his career, I like him 10X more than Chase Young. Yeah, he’s that type of player.
How do you follow up getting the country’s best pass rusher? Well, you go after the nation’s best linebacker, which is Justin Flowe, from Upland High School in Upland, California. Ranked the sixth-best player in the country, third in the state of California and the #1 ILB in the country, by 247 Sports Composite. He was so good in high school that I know of some owners that drafted him in some extreme IDP fantasy leagues, where you can draft high school players. I know that sounds insane, but that’s a tribute to just how good this kid is, this early in his career. Flowe chose Oregon over powerhouses, such as Clemson, USC, and Miami.
You couldn’t walk into a better opportunity than what Flowe did. He’s the country’s top ILB recruit, stepping into an opportunity that just opened up by Troy Dye’s departure to the NFL, who will likely be a top 20 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Flowe should step into that vacancy right away and help the Ducks not miss a beat. At 6’2”, 225 lbs. he has a solid frame, which he can build and add to. He’s a huge hitter, that has absolutely no problem being physical. A high motor player that refuses to be blocked. He has great instincts and terrific straight-line speed, which allows him to see and attack the ball. He has been working hard to improve his lateral movement and coverage skills. With elite coaching, he should not only improve in these areas but improve his overall game. It’s rare to see an elite player improve his game, at each level, but Flowe has the ability to do so. This chance to start as a true freshman reminds me a lot of Henry To’oto’o for the Tennessee Vols last year. To’oto’o was a tackling machine for the Vols and Flowe should follow in his footsteps.
He’s yet another player that should be owned in all IDP Devy and “Campus to Canton” leagues, as well as being on the watch lists of IDP dynasty leagues. Don’t be afraid to, and I recommend that you acquire him in any of your leagues as soon as possible. These types of players don’t come along every day, so be sure you get your shares of him wherever you can.
If those two weren’t enough for the Ducks, they already have one of the nation’s best young safeties, in junior Jevon Holland. The saying the rich get richer is very true. Winning breeds winning and attracts the best the sport has to offer. While the Ducks were able to land the nation’s top recruit in each of the last two seasons, they already began building the foundation a few years earlier. Holland was a 4★★★★ recruit from Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, California. He chose Oregon over schools such as Boise State, Arizona, and Colorado.
Holland made an impact right away with the Ducks. As a true freshman, he would play in all thirteen games and would lead the team in interceptions (5). That total would be good enough for second in the PAC-12 and tenth in the NCAA on the season. He would add 42 tackles and six PBUs. He would follow that great freshman season up, with another terrific performance. Last year as a sophomore, Holland would record four more interceptions and would return one for a touchdown. That would be good enough to lead the PAC-12, in both categories. He would add 66 tackles and 4 PBUs on the year. Now entering his junior season, I expect him to have a career year and to be among the nation’s leaders in interceptions. When you have star impact players such as Thibodeaux and Flowe playing in front of you, it opens up a lot of opportunities to make plays.
In the fantasy world, we all know, that the high scoring positions are LB, DE, and S, so Holland is definitely a player that must be owned in all IDP devy leagues. A high tackle producer for the position and will get you the impact points with interceptions. Go see if he’s owned and if so, see what it would take to acquire him. I am betting he can be had for a reasonable price right now.
Thanks for reading my article and if enjoyed it, you can read more of my articles at dynastyfootballfactory.com. You can also follow me on social media, on Twitter at Hollywood@DFF_DWin, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub I’m user KingTitan1 and you can tune in each week and listen to the podcasts, IDP Nation that I co-host, on a number of different platforms. Feel free to hit me up with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy
