2023 BIG TEN THOMPSON-RANDLE EL FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue,...Right from the start of the 2023 campaign, Thieneman led the Purdue defense all season long and emerged as one of the best defensive players in the country. The Westfield, Indiana, native ranks second nationally in interceptions (6) and third in solo tackles (74), both new Purdue freshman records and more than any other freshman in the country. Thieneman also paces the nation's freshmen in total tackles (106) and forced fu mbles (2). His six interceptions are double the nearest competition, as four freshmen around the country have three INTs apiece.Ending his first season as a Boilermaker, Thieneman went out with a bang by breaking a pair of school records. The defe nsive back made a pair of interceptions in the first half against Indiana, bringing his season total to six to surpass Schweigert's freshman record of five for a single season. Thieneman became just the eighth Boilermaker to record six interceptions in a season, the first since Ricardo Allen in 2013. Along with his pair of picks, 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 College Football Hall of Famer Rod W oodson's Purdue freshman record of solo tackles in a single season. Woodson ended his 1983 freshman campaign with 67 solo tackles, while Thieneman registered 74 this season. - Purdue Football
So/2027 SS Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
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