Potential No. 1 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux skipping Alamo Bowl to prepare for NFL Draft

The collegiate career of Oregon Ducks pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is officially over and he's skipping the Alamo Bowl to begin preparation for the 2022 NFL Draft, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Thibodeaux has long been considered one of the favorites to be the top pick in the upcoming draft and is the No. 1 ranked prospect of the class by ESPN's Mel Kiper. While Thibodeaux missed some time in September due to an ankle sprain, he still finished the season with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He was particularly dominant during an October game against UCLA when he finished with two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.

Oregon was well-positioned to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2021, but lost to Utah twice in the final three weeks of the season. The Ducks' consolation prize was an Alamo Bowl matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners. On the same day Thibodeaux's decision was announced, Oregon coach Mario Cristobal accepted an offer to become the new coach of the Miami Hurricanes.

A quarterback has been picked first overall in four consecutive drafts, but there are no passers among Kiper's top 15 prospects for the 2022 class. The 1-11-1 Detroit Lions are currently in line to own the top pick with the 2-10 Houston Texans and 2-10 Jacksonville Jaguars not far behind.