Anthony Wilson
“Speech! Speech!”
That’s what Purdue sophomore safety Dillon Thieneman heard when the Boilermakers opened spring practice in March. He wasn’t prepared. He definitely didn’t expect his family to show up moments earlier or for Purdue to drop a banner in honor of his 2023 All-American season (AP third team). But he did his best when he was promoted, quickly thanking his teammates: “It’s because of you.”
For the rest of the workout, at least between reps, Thieneman would look up and see… well… a picture of himself.
“It’s weird,” Thieneman told 247Sports. “I just kind of kept looking at it. I would be out of the question and look and be surprised again.”
That was the one thing that surprised Thieneman during a true freshman campaign that saw him break the national conversation and even win 247Sports True Freshman of the Year.
Thieneman did a little bit of everything for the Boilermakers. He led the team with 106 tackles, 74 solo – breaking Rod Woodson’s school record for a freshman and tied for fifth nationally in that number. His six interceptions tied for third-most in the FBS. His 89.5 PFF College Grade led all Power Five true freshman defensive backs.
He’s already the most recognizable name on a team that will waste no time stepping into the national spotlight this fall, as Purdue presents Notre Dame on September 14 (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS). Thieneman’s rise to stardom also happened instantly.
Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene had an incredible 2023 debut in a win against Purdue on September 2, 2023. He threw for 366 yards and 4 TDs on 31-of-44 passing. There was just one small glitch: a fourth-quarter interception that (briefly) led to Purdue taking the lead.
Keene dropped back, waited a bit to allow his receiver to finish his double move, and then let the ball fly toward a seemingly open target about 35 yards downfield.
In the TV copy of the game, it looks like a sure catch, a likely backbreaker for four-down Purdue with 5:17 left. But suddenly, like a flash on the screen, Thieneman appears on the scene to make a leaping interception at full speed – hitting the receiver in the process – before setting foot on the field.
“I knew as soon as the ball went up and he was on the break, he was going to get it,” Purdue safeties coach Grant O’Brien told 247Sports.
After all, this moment encompasses all the elements that make Thieneman so special.
Thieneman began the snap about 25 yards behind the line of scrimmage as Purdue’s only safety. Keene’s eyes immediately turned to the left at the snap, so Thieneman began moving in that direction. Just as Keene began to wrap up, Thieneman noticed the receiver begin his separation field. That’s when Thieneman took off.
Making such a quick read and the instincts to trust it are not common for first-year free safeties. This is a role that requires repetition and learned experience to achieve greatness.
But O’Brien observed these traits in Thieneman (pronounced THEE-na-man) throughout the off-season until last year. He described Thieneman as “overly prepared.” There was never a need to teach Thieneman how to study or worry about how the true freshman would watch film on his own. Thieneman prepared to such a level that he almost didn’t need to think deeply. He could diagnose and react.
“He understands the game of football,” O’Brien said. “He had 100% confidence that he was doing the right thing. He was playing football freely. There was no hesitation.”
Seeing what will happen is one thing. Being able to do the play is another.
Thieneman broke it before the ball left Keene’s hands. Even so, he still had to cover around 25-30 yards in just 3 seconds to get to the ball in time. That’s where his athletic ability comes into play.
While not a highly decorated recruit out of Westfield High School in Indiana – 247Sports gave Thieneman an 87 rating – Thieneman is an impressive athlete. The 6-foot, 205-pound safety posted a 4.36 laser timed 40 when he was a junior in high school, along with a 37.4-inch vertical; not to mention a 465-pound squat and a 300-pound power clean.
Those are dynamic numbers that translated to college, where he hit 22 miles per hour on GPS last offseason, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.
This is touching.
That’s where ball skills come into play. Making interceptions doesn’t just involve a player’s hands. It’s about tracking the ball in the air and attacking it before the other player. Doing this at over 20 miles per hour adds another degree of difficulty. But it’s something Thieneman has consistently shown the ability to do.
“If you pull back the practice tape to that point, he was doing those players every day as if it was routine,” O’Brien said. “Physically, it’s what you’re looking for in terms of database profile.”
Thieneman’s banner only adds to his family’s legacy with the Boilermakers. Thieneman grew up attending games and tailgates in West Layfette, watching his brothers Jake and Brennan go from assistants to fan-favorite starters from 2014-2020.
His time growing up at Purdue is a big reason he chose the Boilermakers over Northwestern, Minnesota and Indiana. As for the brothers, learning from the journey almost helped boost their career early, at least in some ways.
They taught him how to work.
“The hard work, the determination, the discipline,” Thieneman said. “They showed up as assistants. They were rock bottom. When Jake showed up, it was a different team. He originally wasn’t allowed to eat with the team. You just learn to put your head down and work your way up.”
