Fox analyst lists Dillon Thieneman as the Oregon Ducks best player, but another All BIG Ten defender may have a stronger case
Fox College Football analyst RJ Young lies Dillon Thienman as the Ducks best player but there are other options who may have stronger cases.
The Oregon Ducks enter the college football season as one of the best programs in the country. They were recently voted as one of the top ten teams in the country, coming in seventh in the AP poll. The team is loaded with talent and has star players across its roster.
Fox Sports analyst RJ Young wrote an article on Tuesday discussing who the top player is from each of the programs voted into the top ten in the AP Poll. Young’s pick for the Oregon Ducks was a bit of a surprise as he chose Purdue transfer safety Dillon Thieneman as the team’s best player.
“One of the best defensive players to transfer this past offseason, Thieneman was a standout for a Purdue team that has been one of the worst programs in a power conference over the past couple of years. He won Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023, when he recorded six interceptions,” Young said.
Thieneman is a ballhawking safety with the speed, instincts, and range to be a weapon in the centerfield. He is an underrated athlete with excellent quickness to cover receivers down the field. His ability to play the run is also impressive, as he shows the required toughness to trigger and make tackles down in the box.
Young’s choice of Thieneman as the Ducks’ best player is understandable and tough to argue against. However, other players could be a more deserving choice entering the 2025 season.
Who are the other candidates to be the Ducks’ best player besides Thieneman?
Matayo Uiagalelei
Oregon’s defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei put together a standout sophomore campaign in 2024, becoming a force up front for the Ducks. He led the Big Ten with 10 sacks, earning First Team All-Big Ten recognition. His impact was significant in Oregon’s perfect regular season and conference championship run during their inaugural year in the Big Ten.
Uiagalelei has been a dynamic player since he set foot on campus. He’s grown into a well-rounded player who can affect the game in both phases and has proven to raise his game in the most crucial moments. With him still ascending and the production he’s already had, Uiagalelei would be my vote for who Oregon’s best player on the team is.
Bryce Boettcher
Boettcher being listed may surprise people, but make no mistake, Boettcher is the heart and soul of the Oregon Ducks’ defense. Boettcher enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, starting 13 Ducks games and earning Second Team All-BIG Ten. The 6’2 senior out of Eugene led the team in tackles and was all over the football, displaying outstanding instincts and motor. Boettcher was all over the field in 2024, and while he may not be the highest graded prospect from an NFL GM point of view, as strictly a college player, Boettcher certainly has a strong argument as the Ducks’ best player.
Kenyon Sadiq
While the production is undoubtedly lacking, Sadiq might be the most talented player on the Ducks roster. Sadiq has played sparingly for the Ducks over his first two seasons but enters the 2025 season as the Ducks’ unquestioned TE1 and perhaps leading pass-catching option. In his limited snaps, Sadiq has shown rare athleticism and playmaking ability that have already allowed him to be high up on NFL decision-makers’ radars. Don’t be surprised if, after the Ducks’ 2025 season, Sadiq is unanimously considered the Ducks’ best player.
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