DALLAS – On the defensive side of the football throughout the 2023 season, the best freshman in the nation was a Purdue Boilermaker. That distinction became official as the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) tabbed All-American defensive back Dillon Thieneman the Defensive Freshman Player of the Year presented by Chris Doering Mortgage.
Along with earning FWAA Freshman All-America accolades, Thieneman becomes just the second defensive player, as well as the first Big Ten player, to win a national freshman player of the year award from the organization. Thieneman is Purdue's first player to make the FWAA Freshman All-America team since wide receiver David Bell (Cleveland Browns) and defensive lineman George Karlaftis (Kansas City Chiefs) in 2019.
As one of the best players in the country, regardless of class, Thieneman earned Third Team All-America accolades from The Associated Press to become the 50th All-American in program history, Purdue's first All-America defensive back since Steve Jackson in 1990 (Gannett News Service) as well as the first AP All-America Boilermaker since College Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson (1986). Thieneman ended his 2023 campaign 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, as four recorded three apiece throughout the 2023 season, while his 74 solo tackles ranked first amongst all Big Ten defenders.
Ending his first season as a Boilermaker, Thieneman went out with a bang by breaking a pair of school records. 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. Thieneman became just the eighth Boilermaker to record six interceptions in a season, the first since Ricardo Allen in 2013. 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 solo tackles in a single season. Woodson ended his 1983 freshman campaign with 67 solo tackles.
The 2023 Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Thieneman also paced the nation's freshmen in total tackles (106) and forced fumbles (2). He was Purdue's leading tackler in eight different games, cracking double figures four times. Thieneman became the first Purdue freshman to record multiple double-digit tackle games since Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England Patriots) in 2014.
Following a historic debut season, Thieneman became the seventh Boilermaker to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year (Brian Fox – 1988, Eric Hunter – 1989, Corey Rogers – 1991, Stuart Schweigert – 2000, Rondale Moore – 2018, David Bell – 2019), including the third Purdue player in the last six seasons. He was the conference's 11th defensive player to win the award as well as the fifth defensive back alongside the fellow Boilermaker Stuart Schweigert (2000), Charles Woodson (Michigan – 1995), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan – 2015) and Brandon Joseph (Northwestern – 2000).
Thieneman was the only Big Ten freshman defender to make one of the three all-league teams, earning Second Team All-B1G honors from the coaches and third team accolades from the media. He was a five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree throughout the 2023 season, becoming the first defender in conference history to win any weekly award five times in a single season. The Purdue defensive back joined a list of only seven other Big Ten players (six quarterbacks, one running back) to win at least five weekly accolades in a single season and the first Boilermaker to win a weekly conference award five times. Drew Brees (Offense – 2000), Travis Dorsch (Special Teams – 2001), Kyle Orton (Offense – 2004), Rondale Moore (Freshman – 2018) and David Bell (Freshman – 2019) collected Big Ten weekly honors four times in a season, tying for Purdue's previous best.
The FWAA Freshman All-America players will be honored at a banquet hosted by former coach Steve Spurrier and SEC Network Analyst Chris Doering at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille on Monday, Feb. 26, in Gainesville.
Thieneman Accolades
Third Team All-America (AP)
FWAA Defensive Freshman of the Year
Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year
FWAA Freshman All-America
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year finalist
Second Team All-Big Ten (Coaches), Third Team All-Big Ten (Media)
First Team Freshman All-America (The Athletic)
USA TODAY Big Ten Newcomer of the Year
Consensus Midseason Freshman All-America
5-time B1G Freshman of the Week (Only B1G defender in league history, Purdue record)
Thieneman by the Numbers
6 Interceptions (National Rank: 3rd, Freshman Rank: 1st, Purdue Freshman Record)
74 Solo Tackles (National Rank: 3rd, Freshman Rank: 1st, Purdue Freshman Record)
8.8 Tackles Per Game (National Rank: 31st, Freshman Rank: 1st)
2 Forced Fumbles (Freshman Rank: 1st)
Along with earning FWAA Freshman All-America accolades, Thieneman becomes just the second defensive player, as well as the first Big Ten player, to win a national freshman player of the year award from the organization. Thieneman is Purdue's first player to make the FWAA Freshman All-America team since wide receiver David Bell (Cleveland Browns) and defensive lineman George Karlaftis (Kansas City Chiefs) in 2019.
As one of the best players in the country, regardless of class, Thieneman earned Third Team All-America accolades from The Associated Press to become the 50th All-American in program history, Purdue's first All-America defensive back since Steve Jackson in 1990 (Gannett News Service) as well as the first AP All-America Boilermaker since College Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson (1986). Thieneman ended his 2023 campaign 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, as four recorded three apiece throughout the 2023 season, while his 74 solo tackles ranked first amongst all Big Ten defenders.
Ending his first season as a Boilermaker, Thieneman went out with a bang by breaking a pair of school records. 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. Thieneman became just the eighth Boilermaker to record six interceptions in a season, the first since Ricardo Allen in 2013. 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 solo tackles in a single season. Woodson ended his 1983 freshman campaign with 67 solo tackles.
The 2023 Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Thieneman also paced the nation's freshmen in total tackles (106) and forced fumbles (2). He was Purdue's leading tackler in eight different games, cracking double figures four times. Thieneman became the first Purdue freshman to record multiple double-digit tackle games since Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England Patriots) in 2014.
Following a historic debut season, Thieneman became the seventh Boilermaker to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year (Brian Fox – 1988, Eric Hunter – 1989, Corey Rogers – 1991, Stuart Schweigert – 2000, Rondale Moore – 2018, David Bell – 2019), including the third Purdue player in the last six seasons. He was the conference's 11th defensive player to win the award as well as the fifth defensive back alongside the fellow Boilermaker Stuart Schweigert (2000), Charles Woodson (Michigan – 1995), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan – 2015) and Brandon Joseph (Northwestern – 2000).
Thieneman was the only Big Ten freshman defender to make one of the three all-league teams, earning Second Team All-B1G honors from the coaches and third team accolades from the media. He was a five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree throughout the 2023 season, becoming the first defender in conference history to win any weekly award five times in a single season. The Purdue defensive back joined a list of only seven other Big Ten players (six quarterbacks, one running back) to win at least five weekly accolades in a single season and the first Boilermaker to win a weekly conference award five times. Drew Brees (Offense – 2000), Travis Dorsch (Special Teams – 2001), Kyle Orton (Offense – 2004), Rondale Moore (Freshman – 2018) and David Bell (Freshman – 2019) collected Big Ten weekly honors four times in a season, tying for Purdue's previous best.
The FWAA Freshman All-America players will be honored at a banquet hosted by former coach Steve Spurrier and SEC Network Analyst Chris Doering at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille on Monday, Feb. 26, in Gainesville.
Thieneman Accolades
Third Team All-America (AP)
FWAA Defensive Freshman of the Year
Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year
FWAA Freshman All-America
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year finalist
Second Team All-Big Ten (Coaches), Third Team All-Big Ten (Media)
First Team Freshman All-America (The Athletic)
USA TODAY Big Ten Newcomer of the Year
Consensus Midseason Freshman All-America
5-time B1G Freshman of the Week (Only B1G defender in league history, Purdue record)
Thieneman by the Numbers
6 Interceptions (National Rank: 3rd, Freshman Rank: 1st, Purdue Freshman Record)
74 Solo Tackles (National Rank: 3rd, Freshman Rank: 1st, Purdue Freshman Record)
8.8 Tackles Per Game (National Rank: 31st, Freshman Rank: 1st)
2 Forced Fumbles (Freshman Rank: 1st)