PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – One week closer to the start of the 2024 season, and one more watch list that features Purdue defensive back Dillon Thieneman. An All-American during his 2023 freshman campaign, Thieneman found his name on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, announced Monday (Aug. 12) by the Maxwell Football Club.
The Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List is the fourth preseason award watch list that includes Thieneman. The Boilermaker is also on watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Several outlets have tabbed Thieneman as a Preseason All-American (Walter Camp, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Pick Six Previews) as well.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Thieneman had a breakout freshman season in 2023. 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. He was 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).
In his first season in the Old Gold and Black, Thieneman was named the FWAA Defensive Freshman Player of the Year and 247Sports True Freshman of the Year. He 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, while his 74 solo tackles ranked first amongst all Big Ten defenders.
The 2023 Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year also paced the nation's freshmen in total tackles (106) and forced fumbles (2). 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 fellow Boilermaker Stuart Schweigert (2000), Charles Woodson (Michigan – 1995), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan – 2015) and Brandon Joseph (Northwestern – 2020).
Ending the 2023 season strong, Thieneman made two interceptions to help Purdue beat Indiana and keep the Old Oaken Bucket. The pair of picks brought his season total to six to surpass Schweigert's freshman record of five for a single season. Along with his two INTs, 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 Rod 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.
A year ago, 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 became 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.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 12, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled November 26. The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12.
Thieneman and the Boilermakers begin the 2024 season at home against Indiana State (Aug. 31). Kickoff from Ross-Ade Stadium is set for 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
Thieneman Preseason Honors
Second Team Preseason All-America (Walter Camp, Phil Steele, Athlon Sports, Pick Six Previews)
First Team Preseason All-Big Ten (Phil Steele, Athlon Sports)
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
The Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List is the fourth preseason award watch list that includes Thieneman. The Boilermaker is also on watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Several outlets have tabbed Thieneman as a Preseason All-American (Walter Camp, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Pick Six Previews) as well.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Thieneman had a breakout freshman season in 2023. 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. He was 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).
In his first season in the Old Gold and Black, Thieneman was named the FWAA Defensive Freshman Player of the Year and 247Sports True Freshman of the Year. He 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, while his 74 solo tackles ranked first amongst all Big Ten defenders.
The 2023 Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year also paced the nation's freshmen in total tackles (106) and forced fumbles (2). 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 fellow Boilermaker Stuart Schweigert (2000), Charles Woodson (Michigan – 1995), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan – 2015) and Brandon Joseph (Northwestern – 2020).
Ending the 2023 season strong, Thieneman made two interceptions to help Purdue beat Indiana and keep the Old Oaken Bucket. The pair of picks brought his season total to six to surpass Schweigert's freshman record of five for a single season. Along with his two INTs, 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 Rod 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.
A year ago, 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 became 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.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 12, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled November 26. The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12.
Thieneman and the Boilermakers begin the 2024 season at home against Indiana State (Aug. 31). Kickoff from Ross-Ade Stadium is set for 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
Thieneman Preseason Honors
Second Team Preseason All-America (Walter Camp, Phil Steele, Athlon Sports, Pick Six Previews)
First Team Preseason All-Big Ten (Phil Steele, Athlon Sports)
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List