After winning the Big Ten in their first year, the Oregon Ducks are looking to repeat in the 2025-2026 season.
It surely will not be easy, as the Ducks are losing multiple starters from a 13-1 team and will be sending an inexperienced quarterback out there for game one against Montana State in the season opener. Still, recruiting has never been better with the Ducks than under Dan Lanning and that includes transfer portal additions. The Ducks added 10 players from the portal for the No. 4 ranked class.
Among the transfer portal additions was safety Dillon Thieneman from Purdue, the No. 1 ranked safety in the portal. Thieneman, during his two seasons at Purdue, racked up back-to-back 100 tackle seasons with six career interceptions, nine PBUs, and 7.0 tackles for loss in 24 games played.
With his experience and production, he joined a system led by defensive-minded head coach Dan Lanning and another strong schematic mind, defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi. Thieneman likely won’t post another 100 tackle season with the help and talent he’ll have around him, but his impact will be felt on and off the field, something that’s become apparent from the day he’s stepped foot on campus.
“Well, he’s a dynamic player on film, and when you meet his family, unbelievable family, a guy that is infatuated with football, right? And infatuated with the extra work,” said Lanning. “There’s probably not a day that goes by that Dillon’s not in the weight room, getting bonus work, doing extra rehab, getting extra film, his intelligence, all those things are really picking up. Establishing some standards for the DB group and how they’re going to operate. I think he’s done a great job of that, and I know he’s not satisfied. So I love having players here that aren’t satisfied, they’re looking to get better and improve. I think he saw what Oregon could bring him, and I know he’s going to bring a lot to Oregon.”
With that, Pro Football Focus (PFF) has named Thieneman as the No. 3 returning safety in college football, landing behind Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Minnesota’s Koi Perich.
Here’s what PFF’s Max Chadwick wrote about the talented secondary member: “The only transfer on this list, Thieneman, didn’t excel as a sophomore at Purdue in the same way he did as a freshman. He posted just a 72.4 PFF overall grade after earning an 89.5 mark in 2023. Much of that can be attributed to the Boilermakers lining him up at free safety far less, a role he excels in with his elite speed and ball skills. Thieneman’s 89.4 PFF overall grade since 2023 ranks fourth among returning FBS safeties, and he boasts 80.0-plus PFF grades in coverage and run defense over that span. He is arguably the best center fielder in college football, as well as one of the best overall athletes. Head coach Dan Lanning should have a lot of fun incorporating Thieneman’s range into his defense.”
Dillon Thieneman is my favorite transfer portal player that I’ve watched pic.twitter.com/FCXKDwjiUM
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) December 10, 2024
Thieneman will showcase his talents during the Ducks spring game, coming April 26th at 1:00 PM PT.
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