Months after Oregon’s transfer, ex-Purdue athlete is clean when throwing away family fare Dan Lanning

Dan Lanning has made Eugene a transfer shub and this low season was no exception. The ducks are set on fire, acquire ten new transfers and receive the number 4-rating 2025 transfer class, per 247sports. The ability of Lanning to recruit Elite players is not coincidental; It is a combination of the winning environment of Oregon, NFL development and a clear route to the great time. Oregon’s Portal Haul is led this year by five-star Isaiah World, the number 2 Portal player in general, and a couple of four-stars such as the decline of Makhi Hughes, broad recipient Malik Benson and tight end Jamari Johnson.

The ducks also reinforced the defense with Bear Alexander and, in particular, Dillon Thieneman safety. What is really intriguing is that the strategy of Lanning Oregon has turned into a destination where transfers go to a level. Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel found New Life (and NFL Buzz) in Eugene, and now the ducks want to repeat this with their new transfer class, which leads us to one of the more compelling stories of this transfer cycle: Dillon Thieneman. He excelled in Purdue and reached back-to-backle seasons, All-American Honors and Big first-year student of the year in 2023. An important player in the defense of the boiler makers, he maintained the inheritance of his family on Purdue. And that is what we will discover by him on the ducks of a feather podcast.

During the episode of May 31 from The Ducks of a Feather PodcastThere is a short conversation with Dillon. If you come from Indiana and your last name is Thieneman, it is as if fate is already planned to be a boiler maker. Dillon’s two older brothers, Jake and Brennan, both walked on Purdue, and they worked their way to large contributors in the secondary. Dillon, who was the youngest, observed every step of the road. “AHow difficult that decision was, it was the decision to leave Purdue, enter the portal and then see different options, and my most important thing in the portal was, such as seeing places where I could develop, where I could learn, and that can put me at the next level, “” he says.

In the first year of Dillon Thieneman, Rod Woodson’s school record fell for Solo Tackles by a first -year student. He led the first-year students of the nation in interceptions and tackles and collected All-American Awards. His fans at Purdue saw him develop into the kind of ball player for which you hang a banner. His face is now shown. Together with boiler maker icons. Drew Brees and Rod Woodson. ‘I understand this, it is not just about statistics such as statistics are very good, ehm, but that is not the most important thing, it is more your development and understanding of how you can, get better and project yourself more. “

Dillon recorded monster statistics – more than 100 tackles as a first -year student! But what really stood out on him were his football Smarts. Coaches wondered how quickly he took new arrangements, adapted to various violations and emerged as a changing room leader. It is that kind of growth that makes you a target for NFL scouts, instead of your highlights of the highlights. Also consider Bo Nix. When he went to Oregon, fans concentrated on his Auburn statistics, but his actual leap was from adapting new coaches, learning a pro-style attack and developing as a more well-rounded quarterback. His concept value increased due to his improvement, not just his statistics.

Dillon acknowledges: “And when only one to year two look at that year and when how last season ended, it was as if it was a pretty disappointing season, just as it ended and all that, but I needed that I knew I had to take a step in a different direction if I wanted to achieve what I wanted to achieve. “ Purdue finished with a rough record of 1-11 and the whole atmosphere around the program shifted. It is difficult if you pour everything into the game, but the team just doesn’t click and the season ends on a sour note. For someone like Dillon, who always thinks about how to go up a level, that kind of disappointment is a wake-up call.

But why do the ducks receive so much love? Oregon, with then Lanning, is that kind of destination. “I focused on Oregon, you have coach H You have Tosh of Coach Lupoi, Sorry Coach Lanning, all and love their defense they run, how they just run things in the building, how honest and how real, are they real are“Says Dillon. Dillon and his family talked a lot about a lot, and it really came down to development and opportunities. Oregon, with Dan Lanning, is known for taking transfers and making them NFL-ready stars.

Why Oregon stood out in the transfer shaking?

Kobe Savage, Tysheem Johnson Jabbar Muhammad arrived in Eugene, explained and considerably increased their draft stock. Dillon noticed that and believed, “I could be.” Right coaching, playing against the best competition and being in a system that replicates what Sunday looks like, are what he is all about. He also said how Oregon’s defense is full of NFL ideas, and the coaches, in particular Lanning and defensive backs coach Chris Hampton, tend to develop game makers.

The defense of Oregon, which was anchored by Lanning and coordinator Tosh Lupoi, arranged in the top 10 in the country, both against the pass and the run. That is the kind of situation that a player like Thieneman wants in a place: to compete to receive championships and coaching of NFL quality. And let’s be honest, the marriage is ideal. Lanning brought Thieneman to Oregon’s attention before Oregon Purdue came across and spoke strongly about his sidelines-to-subsideline reach and instincts. Oregon prefers his protections to stay deep, read the whole field and respond quickly – essentially, everything that Thieneman is already good at.

Although Oregon has promising young safety, Aaron Flowers and Peyton Woodyard, Thieneman is the real deal in terms of the university experience and leadership in secondary. So for Dillon, choosing Oregon was not only a matter of escaping a difficult environment at Purdue. It was about getting a program in Ascension, with a track record of developing transfers, an opportunity to play in large competitions (Hi, College Football Playoff!), And a coaching staff that can take talent and make NFL -Picks against it.