WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football defensive back Dillon Thieneman has been named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced to kick off the month of November. The nation's leading freshman in multiple defensive categories, Thieneman is one of 14 semifinalists and the only Big Ten freshman up for the award.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football. Named after Shaun Alexander since 2018, this award recognizes the exceptional performance and impact made by these players on their respective teams throughout the season.
As a true freshman, Thieneman has already become a leader on the Boilermaker defense and one of the best defensive players in the country. The Westfield, Indiana, native ranks second nationally in solo tackles, averaging 6.5 per game. Thieneman's 9.2 tackles per game not only lead Purdue but also are more than any other freshman in the country. He leads the nation in tackles (74), solo tackles (52) and interceptions (3) and forced fumbles (2).
Thieneman is no stranger to recognition in his first college football season. He received Midseason Freshman All-America honors from 247Sports, The Athletic, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and On3. A three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree (Sept. 4, Oct. 9, Oct. 30), Thienemen became the first defender in Purdue history to earn accolade three times.
Thienemen has made three interceptions this season, ranking 17th nationally and one of only three freshmen to record three INTs. He became the first freshman in school history to record an interception in each of his first two games, and his trio of INTs is tied for the third-most all-time by a Purdue freshman. His first career INT in the season opener marked just the third time since 1996 that a Purdue true freshman made an interception in their debut (1999 - James Dunnigan vs. UCF, 2016 - Josh Hayes vs. Eastern Kentucky).
The freshman has led Purdue in tackles in five games this season. Thieneman paced the Boilermakers in tackles in his first three games (10 vs. Fresno State, 7 at Virginia Tech, 14 vs. Syracuse), while becoming the first Purdue freshman to record multiple double-digit tackle games since Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England Patriots) in 2014. This past week against Nebraska, he made a team-high 12 tackles. While it was his most tackles in a conference contest, Thieneman forced two fumbles to tie a Purdue single-game record.
Finalists for the 6th annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award will be released November 29, 2023, and the winner of the award will be announced on December 27, 2023. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
2023 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalists
Caleb Downs (S), Alabama
Javante Mackey (LB), Arkansas State
T.J. Parker (DE), Clemson
D'Angelo Ponds (CB), James Madison
Rueben Bain, (DE), Miami (FL)
Kevin Concepcion (WR), NC State
Nic Anderson (WR), Oklahoma
Peyton Bowen (S), Oklahoma
Dillon Thieneman (DB), Purdue
Jalon Kilgore (S), South Carolina
Anthony Hill (LB), Texas
Taurean York (LB), Texas A&M
Zachariah Branch (WR), USC
Parker Brailsford (OL), Washington
The Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football. Named after Shaun Alexander since 2018, this award recognizes the exceptional performance and impact made by these players on their respective teams throughout the season.
As a true freshman, Thieneman has already become a leader on the Boilermaker defense and one of the best defensive players in the country. The Westfield, Indiana, native ranks second nationally in solo tackles, averaging 6.5 per game. Thieneman's 9.2 tackles per game not only lead Purdue but also are more than any other freshman in the country. He leads the nation in tackles (74), solo tackles (52) and interceptions (3) and forced fumbles (2).
Thieneman is no stranger to recognition in his first college football season. He received Midseason Freshman All-America honors from 247Sports, The Athletic, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and On3. A three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree (Sept. 4, Oct. 9, Oct. 30), Thienemen became the first defender in Purdue history to earn accolade three times.
Thienemen has made three interceptions this season, ranking 17th nationally and one of only three freshmen to record three INTs. He became the first freshman in school history to record an interception in each of his first two games, and his trio of INTs is tied for the third-most all-time by a Purdue freshman. His first career INT in the season opener marked just the third time since 1996 that a Purdue true freshman made an interception in their debut (1999 - James Dunnigan vs. UCF, 2016 - Josh Hayes vs. Eastern Kentucky).
The freshman has led Purdue in tackles in five games this season. Thieneman paced the Boilermakers in tackles in his first three games (10 vs. Fresno State, 7 at Virginia Tech, 14 vs. Syracuse), while becoming the first Purdue freshman to record multiple double-digit tackle games since Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England Patriots) in 2014. This past week against Nebraska, he made a team-high 12 tackles. While it was his most tackles in a conference contest, Thieneman forced two fumbles to tie a Purdue single-game record.
Finalists for the 6th annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award will be released November 29, 2023, and the winner of the award will be announced on December 27, 2023. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
2023 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalists
Caleb Downs (S), Alabama
Javante Mackey (LB), Arkansas State
T.J. Parker (DE), Clemson
D'Angelo Ponds (CB), James Madison
Rueben Bain, (DE), Miami (FL)
Kevin Concepcion (WR), NC State
Nic Anderson (WR), Oklahoma
Peyton Bowen (S), Oklahoma
Dillon Thieneman (DB), Purdue
Jalon Kilgore (S), South Carolina
Anthony Hill (LB), Texas
Taurean York (LB), Texas A&M
Zachariah Branch (WR), USC
Parker Brailsford (OL), Washington