Why Transfer Portal Safety Dillon Thieneman Committed Oregon Ducks, Dan Lanning

After two seasons at Purdue, junior defensive back Dillon Thieneman decided to transfer to the Oregon Ducks in search of better coaching and development to elevate his game. Now, as a key addition to Oregon's defense, Thieneman is focused on refining his skills and taking his play to the next level under the Ducks' proven system.

Michigan State's Jack Velling (12) is injured on a hit by Purdue's Dillon Thieneman during the first quarter on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

EUGENE – After the conclusion of the 2024 football season, the Oregon Ducks hit the recruiting trail hard. Not only did the Ducks go to work landing some of the top high school talent in the nation, but Oregon coach Dan Lanning and his staff also aggressively pursued some of the best transfers in the country. One of these highly touted transfers who took his career to Eugene is junior defensive back Dillon Thieneman, who comes to Oregon after two seasons at Purdue. 

Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) celebrates with Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Smiley Bradford (6) and Purdue Boilermakers defensive lineman Jamarrion Harkless (97) after tackling Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. | Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"It was definitely a very difficult decision. I had to talk to my family for a long time about," said Thieneman when asked about his decision to transfer. "But we found it was going to be in my best interest to leave and find where I could get proper coaching, proper development, where I can go against some of the best competition in the country.” 

“Coach Lanning and this staff, how they develop guys, what their system is, how their system is related to NFL, type of guys we're going against, like speed coaches, like coach (Kyle) Bolton, Coach (Wilson) Love, like all of them. I just settled on this place," Thieneman continued.

Oregon has built a reputation for developing transfers and taking them to the next level. Players like quarterbacks Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, as well as defensive backs Christian Gonzalez, Evan Williams, Jabbar Muhammad and more arrived to Oregon as transfers looking to maximize their potential. At Oregon, these athletes got the coaching and resources needed to get to the NFL. 

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

This history of development is something that couldn’t be ignored when Thieneman was deciding where he would spend his third season of collegiate football. 

"[Development was] definitely a big factor in that," said Thieneman. "I saw that Oregon's really good at taking in transfers and developing them and transitioning them to the next level. And I mean this defense, they kind of set you up for that level, because, like, we play all types of coverages, like we do all types of things that you'll see at the next level." 

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Oregon’s defensive approach and coaching pedigree played a key role in attracting Thieneman to Eugene. Prior to taking over at Oregon, Lanning served as the defensive coordinator at Georgia, where he built the top defense in the nation. His defensive background has shaped Oregon into a more aggressive, disciplined unit, contributing to a 35-6 record, Big Ten Conference Championship, and a College Football Playoff appearance,  

Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Dan Lanning against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Adding to that foundation is defensive backs coach Chris Hampton, who helped lead one of the nation’s most disruptive pass defenses at Tulane in 2018. Hampton’s ability to develop playmakers in the secondary, along with his recruiting influence, was instrumental in bringing the former Purdue standout to the Ducks.

Together, Lanning and Hampton’s defensive expertise made Oregon a natural fit for a player looking to elevate his game to the next level. 

New co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chris Hampton, right, joins the first practice of spring for Oregon football as they prepare for the 2023 season. Eug 031623 Uo Spring Fb 06 | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

At Purdue, Thieneman established himself as a dominant player in the secondary. In his two seasons as a boilermaker, he recorded back-to-back 100-tackle seasons while recording six career interceptions, nine pass breakups, and 210 total tackles.

He’s proven himself in both the pass and ground game. Now, with Oregon’s system behind him, he has the chance to refine his skills and potentially even emerge as one of the top defensive backs in the country.