Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux earned Pac-12 Football Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honors after his dynamic first season with the Ducks. Thibodeaux broke the Oregon freshman record with 9 sacks, which was also good for second among all FBS freshmen this season. The true freshman tallied 14 tackles for loss, the second most of any Pac-12 student-athletes this season. Thibodeaux peaked in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game, notching 2.5 sacks and the first ever blocked punt in Pac-12 Championship game history, as the Ducks upset Utah 37-15.