Summer is here, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay.
Are we going to write about quarterbacks? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans.
So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.
Player Information
Player: Dillon Thieneman
School: Oregon
Height/Weight: 6-0/207
Player Background
– 3-Star recruit
– Transferred from Purdue to Oregon
– Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023
– Second Team All-Big Ten in 2023
– Third Team All-American in 2023
Career Stats Heading into the 2025 Season
– 210 Tackles
– 7 Tackles for Loss
– 1 Sack
– 6 Interceptions
– 9 Pass Breakups
Notable PFF Numbers Heading into the 2025 Season
– 77.9 PFF Run Grade
– 78.6 PFF Coverage Grade
– 13% Missed Tackle Rate
– 29 Defensive Stops
Player Traits
– Good open field tackling ability
– Great coverage skills
– Fluid hips and quick feet to change direction
– Excellent awareness
Player Summary
Thieneman is transferring to Oregon to be a part of Dan Lanning’s defense, which is certainly poised to create problems in 2025. Thieneman is a throwback type of safety that we don’t see very often anymore, where he is just as comfortable running downhill to stop the run as he is dropping back in coverage. He thrives making tackles in the open field, which makes him great in run support. His movement skills allow him to be in sync with his brain when he is diagnosing plays, so he is constantly in a position to make plays or redirect the offense. It really is a joy to watch Thieneman play the safety position, but playing at Oregon could make him even better at it.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon