Ohio State has missed out on a top transfer portal target.
Former Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman, the top-ranked safety in the transfer portal, announced his commitment to Oregon on Saturday.
Committed #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/3s8jOY2sen
— Dillon Thieneman (@DillonThieneman) December 14, 2024
Thieneman was expected to visit Ohio State next week, as his brother told On3 on Tuesday that Thieneman would visit both Oregon and Ohio State. But Thieneman ended up committing to the Ducks before he ever made it to Columbus.
It’s a big recruiting win for Oregon as the Ducks land a safety who recorded 210 tackles with six interceptions, 6.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and seven pass breakups over the past two seasons at Purdue.
Had Ohio State landed Thieneman, he would have joined Caleb Downs in next year’s starting lineup to form the top safety tandem in college football. Now, Ohio State will have to decide whether to pursue other transfer safeties or roll with its returning safeties, with Jaylen McClain and Malik Hartford being the leading candidates to start alongside Downs if the Buckeyes don’t add a top transfer.
