WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – It was a special Wednesday at Purdue Football Fall Camp today, and not just because we got to hear from a reigning All-American.
Head coach Ryan Walters and his staff moved practice out to Ross-Ade Stadium to help remind the team what all their preparation was building towards. The players responded well with a hard fought, competitive session that saw both the offense and the defense find success.
The safeties group took their turn to speak to our local media today, with senior Antonio Stevens stepping up to the mic first. The Nashville native has 29 games under his belt for the Boilermakers with 25 tackles and two fumble recoveries to his name. He is looking to take on a bigger role both on and off the field for Walters' team this season.
"I just come in and try to help the young guys out. Be consistent. Be positive and help where I can," Stevens said of his role as a leader. "We've got a lot of great guys and a lot of talent all around on the ball. Guys are just out there making plays. With this system, we just play fast, play physical and we're making plays. It's a great feeling."
Dillon Thieneman was a phenomenon as a true freshman, earning All-America honors while ranking third nationally in interceptions (6) and solo tackles (74). Both of those marks also led all freshmen and set new Purdue freshman records.
Earlier today, he was named a Preseason All-American by the Sporting News, adding to an already extremely long list of accolades for the sophomore heading into this season. All of that success and all of those awards are in the rear-view mirror for Thieneman, who is focused on improving and helping this team however he can.
"Last season was good," Thieneman simply said. "But there's a lot of things I can improve on and get better. I'm not satisfied. I just want to keep going."
Safeties coach Grant O'Brien followed the two leaders of his group, speaking on their development and how they're helping bring along all of the talented new faces the staff added in the offseason.
"DT (Thieneman) and Tone (Stevens) are doing a great job leading because someone helped lead them last year," O'Brien said. "When you think of Sanoussi Kane, and obviously he's having success with the Ravens right now, that's what you want your room to be. You want it to be player driven. You want the standard of a captain that we had last year with Sanoussi, [with him] leaving the room hopefully he left a legacy that someone else can step up. Those two guys are doing a great job."
The Boilermakers have Thursday off before coming back strong on everyday of the weekend. It is one of the last two weekend before the season opener on August 31 in Ross-Ade.
Head coach Ryan Walters and his staff moved practice out to Ross-Ade Stadium to help remind the team what all their preparation was building towards. The players responded well with a hard fought, competitive session that saw both the offense and the defense find success.
The safeties group took their turn to speak to our local media today, with senior Antonio Stevens stepping up to the mic first. The Nashville native has 29 games under his belt for the Boilermakers with 25 tackles and two fumble recoveries to his name. He is looking to take on a bigger role both on and off the field for Walters' team this season.
"I just come in and try to help the young guys out. Be consistent. Be positive and help where I can," Stevens said of his role as a leader. "We've got a lot of great guys and a lot of talent all around on the ball. Guys are just out there making plays. With this system, we just play fast, play physical and we're making plays. It's a great feeling."
Dillon Thieneman was a phenomenon as a true freshman, earning All-America honors while ranking third nationally in interceptions (6) and solo tackles (74). Both of those marks also led all freshmen and set new Purdue freshman records.
Earlier today, he was named a Preseason All-American by the Sporting News, adding to an already extremely long list of accolades for the sophomore heading into this season. All of that success and all of those awards are in the rear-view mirror for Thieneman, who is focused on improving and helping this team however he can.
"Last season was good," Thieneman simply said. "But there's a lot of things I can improve on and get better. I'm not satisfied. I just want to keep going."
Safeties coach Grant O'Brien followed the two leaders of his group, speaking on their development and how they're helping bring along all of the talented new faces the staff added in the offseason.
"DT (Thieneman) and Tone (Stevens) are doing a great job leading because someone helped lead them last year," O'Brien said. "When you think of Sanoussi Kane, and obviously he's having success with the Ravens right now, that's what you want your room to be. You want it to be player driven. You want the standard of a captain that we had last year with Sanoussi, [with him] leaving the room hopefully he left a legacy that someone else can step up. Those two guys are doing a great job."
The Boilermakers have Thursday off before coming back strong on everyday of the weekend. It is one of the last two weekend before the season opener on August 31 in Ross-Ade.