An incredible honor.
Before we get into the article here can we just stop for a second and appreciate the picture accompanying it? Just a fantastic photograph and a great snapshot showing why a player like Dillon Thieneman is being honored. Well done by all.
Awards keep racking up for the young Dillon Thieneman. The Athletic has put out their freshman All-American team and Thieneman made their first team.
The honors just keep rolling in @DillonThieneman has been named First Team Freshman All-America by @TheAthleticCFB! pic.twitter.com/3UDqJl2dB3
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) December 7, 2023
He was, no surprise the only Purdue player to make the list from The Athletic. What is perhaps a bit more surprising is that he was the only Big Ten player to make the first team on either side of the ball. The folks at The Athletic know ball, as the kids say, so you’ve gotta truly respect their choices here.
With his two interceptions in the IU game Thieneman grabbed six on the year and broke the freshman record for interceptions in a season that was previously held by Stu Schweigert. His 74 tackles (all solo) were the most ever recorded by a Purdue player in a single season. The prior record holder? Rod Woodson. Pretty good company to be in I’d say. During the season he earned the Big Ten freshman of the week award a total of five times.
This has been one hell of a season for Thieneman and I would expect him to come back even better next year. Congratulations young man.