2026 NFL Draft Prospect: Dillon Thieneman

At just 20 years old, Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman has already established himself as one of the best defensive players in all of college football. A three-star recruit coming out of Westfield High School in central Indiana, Thieneman has made an astounding impact with Purdue, emerging as the face of the Boilermakers’ football program as just a sophomore.

Thieneman’s freshman campaign with the Boilermakers was nothing short of spectacular. He tallied 106 tackles, six interceptions—which was the second-most in the nation—and two forced fumbles. Thieneman led all freshman in each of those categories during the 2023 season.

The central Indiana native’s standout season in West Lafayette earned Thieneman Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, as well as a Freshman All-American selection. Almost equally as impressive, Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave Thieneman a grade of 89.5, making him the highest rated safety in the entire country in 2023. The only two true freshmen safeties to have receiver a higher grade from PFF are NFL veterans Derwin James and Jordan Whitehead.

Thieneman’s 2023 season may go down as the best freshman season in Purdue football history, as Thieneman showcased his rare combination of athleticism, football IQ and toughness, all of which has drawn the eyes of NFL scouts.

Standing at 6-foot and 205 pounds, Thieneman is a versatile safety that can do it all on the gridiron. The sophomore’s ability to play as a single-high safety has Thieneman widely considered amongst the best—if not the best—single-high safeties in the nation. What makes Thieneman standout out as a lone safety is his speed, allowing him to cover the lion’s share of the field on his own, like former Steeler Troy Polamalu.

“Thieneman is the best single-high safety in the country right now,” Dalton Wasserman of PFF asserted. “He is as much of a freak athlete as we have at any position in college football right now. His range is better than 80% of NFL safeties right now, I guarantee it. He’s that good. He’s the whole package: Speed, aggressiveness, ball skills, everything you want in a free safety.”

The Boilermakers’ game is marked by a tremendously high football IQ, which enables him to always be in the right place at the right time. Whether it be in pass coverage, supporting the run or blitzing the quarterback, Thieneman has a natural understanding of the game that is far beyond his years.

“It’s like he was created in a lab somewhere,” Purdue head coach Ryan Walters before the 2024 season began. “You try to find things in his game, his personality, things in his life where you’re like ‘Oh, he needs to pick it up in this area.’ We get the academic grade report; his lowest grade right now is 99.”

Thieneman is much more than just a cerebral player; he’s also one of the most explosive athletes in college football, boasting an impressive combination of speed, agility and ball skills. His movement allows him to lockdown slot receivers with ease, and his ability to change direction makes him a nightmare for quarterbacks who underestimate his range. The Purdue standout is also an excellent tackler, a trait shared by all elite safeties. Thieneman has quickly become known for his ability to generate turnovers, whether it’s intercepting passes or forcing fumbles. 

His instincts and pursuit skills make effective when blitzing the quarterback, and Thieneman often finds himself getting stops at critical moments for his defense—a group that has otherwise struggled over the last year-plus. Everything that Thieneman does on the field, he does with aggression, intelligence and technique.

Thieneman’s swift rise to stardom is also a testament to his relentless work ethic and desire to be great. 

“Have I coached anybody like him before? No, I haven’t. Not at this age,” Walters said. “Not as talented as he is. Not with the work ethic and the hunger that he has. If I were a betting man, I would say he’s got a long time to play football.”

As just a sophomore, Thieneman is already the centerpiece of Purdue’s defense. After following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, both of whom also played at Purdue, Thieneman is carving out his own path. 

Four games into his sophomore season, Thieneman is currently tied for fifth in the Big Ten in tackles this season. He’s played one less game than three of the four players ahead of him. He’s yet to come away with an interception or force a fumble so far this season, but Thieneman continues to look like one of the top players in all of college football.

His all-around skill set has NFL teams looking at Thieneman as an early second round pick now, with a good chance of playing himself into first round consideration. He isn’t draft eligible until the 2026 NFL Draft, but Thieneman has all the makings.