ROSEMONT, Ill. – Nine Purdue Boilermakers earned All-Big Ten honors, as the conference announced its all-league teams and individual awards Tuesday afternoon on Big Ten Network. Tight end Max Klare was selected Third Team All-Big Ten by the conference's coaches, the media named linebacker Kydran Jenkins Third Team All-Big Ten, while seven other Boilermakers were tabbed All-Big Ten Honorable Mention: Cole Brevard, Keelan Crimmins, Gus Hartwig, Will Heldt, Nick Levy, Marcus Mbow and Dillon Thieneman.
In his final season as a Boilermaker, Jenkins earned his highest all-conference honors after being honorable mention the past two years. The Louisville, Georgia, native led Purdue in sacks (7.0) and tackles-for-loss (12.5) this season, while ranking second in total tackles (83) and solo tackles (47). He had a huge game against Oregon State (Sept. 21), recording a career-high 16 tackles to go along with 3.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks. Jenkins averaged 0.58 sacks per game to rank sixth in the Big Ten, and he finished his career with 23.5 sacks to also place sixth in the Purdue record book. With 44.0 career TFLs, Jenkins sits alongside Anthony Spencer (2003-06) for ninth in program history.
After his 2023 season was cut short due to injury, Klare bounced back with a monster 2024 campaign as Purdue's leading receiver. Pacing the Boilermakers in receptions (51), receiving yards (685) and receiving touchdowns (4), the sophomore became the first tight end to lead Purdue in receiving since Justin Sinz hauled in 41 receptions in 2013. Klare finished his season ranked second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally for receiving yards by a tight end. His 685 yards were the sixth-most ever in a single season by a Purdue tight end, bringing Klare's career total to 881 yards to crack the program's Top 10 list. He became just the ninth Big Ten tight end since 2000 to record at least 680 receiving yards in a season. Hauling in six receptions for a career-high 133 yards at No. 23 Illinois (Oct. 12), Klare recorded the most receiving yards by a Purdue tight end since Payne Durham's 150-yard night in the 2021 season opener and the sixth most by a Boilermaker tight end since 1996.
Brevard, Heldt and Thieneman were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after being leaders on the defensive side of the ball. Brevard's 5.5 TFLs ranked third on the team behind Jenkins and Heldt, as the defensive lineman helped clog the middle of the field over 11 starts.
Heldt was a disruptor on the edge and in the opposing backfield, racking up 5.0 sacks and 10.0 tackles-for-loss to rank second on the team in both categories. The sophomore made 56 tackles throughout the season, including a career-high eight at Wisconsin (Oct. 5). Heldt found the end zone as well, recording his first career touchdown with a 16-yard scoop-and-score at No. 23 Illinois.
Thieneman remained a tackling machine as a sophomore, becoming the first Boilermaker to lead Purdue in tackles in consecutive seasons since Bernard Pollard (2004-05). The 2023 All-American made 104 tackles throughout the season, including 70 solo, just the third player in college football over the past 20 seasons to record at least 70 solo tackles as a freshman and as a sophomore. Thieneman's 5.8 solo tackles per game ranked second in the Big Ten and fourth nationally, as well as the most by any defensive back in the country. The Boilermaker made 23 more tackles than the next Big Ten defensive back this season, and he became just the fifth defensive back nationwide (since 2005) to make 100 tackles as a freshman and as a sophomore.
Hartwig and Mbow were anchors on the Purdue offensive line all season long, starting all 12 games to bring the total to 80 starts between the two over their careers (Hartwig – 48, Mbow – 32). Hartwig earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for the fifth time, each year of his collegiate career. The Zionsville, Indiana, native received an 83.3 pass blocking grade from PFF, not allowing a sack and only surrendering one hit on the quarterback. His pass blocking grade ranked second in the Big Ten and 25th nationally among centers, and his 72.2 overall offensive grade ranked second in the conference as well.
Mbow recorded a 75.2 run blocking grade by PFF, ranking sixth among Big Ten tackles. Going up against No. 2 Oregon (Oct. 18), Mbow earned a spot on the PFF National Team of the Week for battling the Ducks' difficult defensive line.
Crimmins had one of the best seasons of any punter in program history. Averaging 44.9 yards per punt, the Australian ranked third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally. The punt average also landed second on Purdue's single-season list, trailing only Travis Dorsch's 48.1 average when he won the 2001 Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter. He recorded 14 punts that were at least 50 yards, while also pinning 17 punts inside the 20. Against No. 18 Notre Dame (Sept. 14), Crimmins punted 10 times for a 47.3-yard clip with a pair of balls over 50 yards and three inside the 20-yard line, marking just the sixth time a Big Ten punter averaged over 47 yards when punting 10 times.
Helping Crimmins and Purdue's punting all season long was Levy. In his first year as a Boilermaker, the junior long snapper earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as well.
All-Big Ten Boilermakers (By Team)
Third Team (Media): Kydran Jenkins
Third Team (Coaches): Max Klare
Honorable Mention (Coaches): Gus Hartwig, Marcus Mbow, Dillon Thieneman, Kydran Jenkins, Will Heldt, Nick Levy, Keelan Crimmins
Honorable Mention (Media): Gus Hartwig, Max Klare, Cole Brevard, Dillon Thieneman, Keelan Crimmins
All-Big Ten Boilermakers (By Player)
Kydran Jenkins (Third Team – Media, Honorable Mention – Coaches)
Max Klare (Third Team – Coaches, Honorable Mention – Media)
Cole Brevard (Honorable Mention – Media)
Keelan Crimmins (Honorable Mention – Coaches, Media)
Gus Hartwig (Honorable Mention – Coaches, Media)
Will Heldt (Honorable Mention – Coaches)
Nick Levy (Honorable Mention – Coaches)
Marcus Mbow (Honorable Mention – Coaches)
Dillon Thieneman (Honorable Mention – Coaches, Media)
In his final season as a Boilermaker, Jenkins earned his highest all-conference honors after being honorable mention the past two years. The Louisville, Georgia, native led Purdue in sacks (7.0) and tackles-for-loss (12.5) this season, while ranking second in total tackles (83) and solo tackles (47). He had a huge game against Oregon State (Sept. 21), recording a career-high 16 tackles to go along with 3.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks. Jenkins averaged 0.58 sacks per game to rank sixth in the Big Ten, and he finished his career with 23.5 sacks to also place sixth in the Purdue record book. With 44.0 career TFLs, Jenkins sits alongside Anthony Spencer (2003-06) for ninth in program history.
After his 2023 season was cut short due to injury, Klare bounced back with a monster 2024 campaign as Purdue's leading receiver. Pacing the Boilermakers in receptions (51), receiving yards (685) and receiving touchdowns (4), the sophomore became the first tight end to lead Purdue in receiving since Justin Sinz hauled in 41 receptions in 2013. Klare finished his season ranked second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally for receiving yards by a tight end. His 685 yards were the sixth-most ever in a single season by a Purdue tight end, bringing Klare's career total to 881 yards to crack the program's Top 10 list. He became just the ninth Big Ten tight end since 2000 to record at least 680 receiving yards in a season. Hauling in six receptions for a career-high 133 yards at No. 23 Illinois (Oct. 12), Klare recorded the most receiving yards by a Purdue tight end since Payne Durham's 150-yard night in the 2021 season opener and the sixth most by a Boilermaker tight end since 1996.
Brevard, Heldt and Thieneman were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after being leaders on the defensive side of the ball. Brevard's 5.5 TFLs ranked third on the team behind Jenkins and Heldt, as the defensive lineman helped clog the middle of the field over 11 starts.
Heldt was a disruptor on the edge and in the opposing backfield, racking up 5.0 sacks and 10.0 tackles-for-loss to rank second on the team in both categories. The sophomore made 56 tackles throughout the season, including a career-high eight at Wisconsin (Oct. 5). Heldt found the end zone as well, recording his first career touchdown with a 16-yard scoop-and-score at No. 23 Illinois.
Thieneman remained a tackling machine as a sophomore, becoming the first Boilermaker to lead Purdue in tackles in consecutive seasons since Bernard Pollard (2004-05). The 2023 All-American made 104 tackles throughout the season, including 70 solo, just the third player in college football over the past 20 seasons to record at least 70 solo tackles as a freshman and as a sophomore. Thieneman's 5.8 solo tackles per game ranked second in the Big Ten and fourth nationally, as well as the most by any defensive back in the country. The Boilermaker made 23 more tackles than the next Big Ten defensive back this season, and he became just the fifth defensive back nationwide (since 2005) to make 100 tackles as a freshman and as a sophomore.
Hartwig and Mbow were anchors on the Purdue offensive line all season long, starting all 12 games to bring the total to 80 starts between the two over their careers (Hartwig – 48, Mbow – 32). Hartwig earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for the fifth time, each year of his collegiate career. The Zionsville, Indiana, native received an 83.3 pass blocking grade from PFF, not allowing a sack and only surrendering one hit on the quarterback. His pass blocking grade ranked second in the Big Ten and 25th nationally among centers, and his 72.2 overall offensive grade ranked second in the conference as well.
Mbow recorded a 75.2 run blocking grade by PFF, ranking sixth among Big Ten tackles. Going up against No. 2 Oregon (Oct. 18), Mbow earned a spot on the PFF National Team of the Week for battling the Ducks' difficult defensive line.
Crimmins had one of the best seasons of any punter in program history. Averaging 44.9 yards per punt, the Australian ranked third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally. The punt average also landed second on Purdue's single-season list, trailing only Travis Dorsch's 48.1 average when he won the 2001 Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter. He recorded 14 punts that were at least 50 yards, while also pinning 17 punts inside the 20. Against No. 18 Notre Dame (Sept. 14), Crimmins punted 10 times for a 47.3-yard clip with a pair of balls over 50 yards and three inside the 20-yard line, marking just the sixth time a Big Ten punter averaged over 47 yards when punting 10 times.
Helping Crimmins and Purdue's punting all season long was Levy. In his first year as a Boilermaker, the junior long snapper earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as well.
All-Big Ten Boilermakers (By Team)
Third Team (Media): Kydran Jenkins
Third Team (Coaches): Max Klare
Honorable Mention (Coaches): Gus Hartwig, Marcus Mbow, Dillon Thieneman, Kydran Jenkins, Will Heldt, Nick Levy, Keelan Crimmins
Honorable Mention (Media): Gus Hartwig, Max Klare, Cole Brevard, Dillon Thieneman, Keelan Crimmins
All-Big Ten Boilermakers (By Player)
Kydran Jenkins (Third Team – Media, Honorable Mention – Coaches)
Max Klare (Third Team – Coaches, Honorable Mention – Media)
Cole Brevard (Honorable Mention – Media)
Keelan Crimmins (Honorable Mention – Coaches, Media)
Gus Hartwig (Honorable Mention – Coaches, Media)
Will Heldt (Honorable Mention – Coaches)
Nick Levy (Honorable Mention – Coaches)
Marcus Mbow (Honorable Mention – Coaches)
Dillon Thieneman (Honorable Mention – Coaches, Media)