Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman has stood out for his play during his first season with the Oregon Ducks, registering 37 total tackles, an interception and three passes defensed in eight games. Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi has used Thieneman in a variety of ways, from disrupting plays near the line of scrimmage to patrolling the deep parts of the field in defending against the pass.
For his efforts, the junior has been named a semifinalist for the PayCom Jim Thorpe Award, given at the end of the season to the best defensive back in college football. Past winners include Texas’ Jahdae Barron (2024), Air Force’s Trey Taylor (2023) and TCU’s Tre Tomlinson (2022).
Now, Thieneman will have a chance to add his name to the list if he continues to excel in the Ducks’ secondary.
Thieneman was among a total of 15 defensive backs that stretched across seven conferences and an independent. Fellow Big Ten members on the list include Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds.
The three finalists for the award will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 25, while the winner will be announced on Friday, Dec. 12 live during ESPN’s presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards.
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