Only a sophomore, Purdue’s Thieneman as heralded as they come
There is little to no question who the best football player is on the Purdue Boilermakers’ roster.
It’s 6-foot, 207-pound safety Dillon Thieneman from Westfield, Ind., and there probably isn’t a close second.
As a true freshman last season, Thieneman was as decorated a player in his first year in West Lafayette as any the program has ever seen.
Now, entering his sophomore campaign the preseason recognition continues to flood in.
Today Thieneman, a freshman All-American, was named a second-team preseason All-American by The Sporting News.
The Sporting News is one of five organizations that the NCAA recognizes to form consensus and unanimous All-Americans at the end of each season (American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp Football Foundation).
Entering 2024, Thieneman has also been named a preseason All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and Pick Six Previews. The Boilermaker is also on watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Thieneman had a tremendous rookie season, earning third-team All-America honors, becoming Purdue’s 50th All-American. He was Purdue’s first All-America defensive back since Steve Jackson in 1990 as well as the first Associated Press All-America Boilermaker since College Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson in 1986.
The Big Ten Freshman of the Year ranked third nationally in interceptions (6) and solo tackles (74), leading all freshmen and setting new Purdue freshman records. His six interceptions were double the nearest freshmen, while his 74 solo tackles ranked first amongst all Big Ten defenders. The defensive back made a pair of interceptions in the win over Indiana, bringing his season total to six to surpass Stuart Schweigert’s freshman record of five for a single season. Along with his pair of picks, Thieneman recorded a team-high eight tackles to lead the Purdue defense in stopping the Hoosiers. All of his tackles were solo, as he broke Woodson’s Purdue freshman record of 67 solo tackles in a single season. Thieneman was Purdue’s leading tackler in eight different games, cracking double figures four times.
Thieneman also paced the nation’s freshmen in total tackles (106) and forced fumbles (2).
He became the seventh Boilermaker to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, including the third Purdue player in the last six seasons.
Fortunately for Purdue head coach Ryan Walters and his staff, the ultra-talented Thieneman will have to wait to take his talents to the NFL until he is at least three seasons removed from high school which means he will be patrolling Purdue’s secondary through the 2025 season.
Thieneman and his Boilermakers kick off the 2024 season at home against Indiana State at 12 p.m. Aug. 31 (the game will be televised by the Big Ten Network).
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