Dillon Thieneman Talks Secondary Competition in Oregon Fall Camp: 'We're all in the mix'
Oregon’s secondary is among the most intriguing position groups for the Ducks in the 2025 season and Dillon Thieneman met with reporters in Eugene to give his thoughts on the competition in fall camp.
Below is a transcription of his media availability from Tuesday afternoon.
On how Dante Moore has looked in practice
Thieneman: “I think he’s looked very good. Be able to kind of make checks, move the pocket, get the offense lined up, get what they need to do and everything. I think he’s been a really good QB in practice.”
On how it is working with other safeties, developing chemistry
Thieneman: “It’s been good, it’s been fun just competing everyday. Playing different spots, moving around in the defense. We’re all competing, we’re all in the mix, we’re all moving around playing together.”
On competition between offense and defense in fall camp
Thieneman: “I think it’s been very beneficial to play with guys, play fast and then to also learn kind of when your side loses in something. But then you can play fast, maybe you win the next day. So I think it’s been really good to have that back and forth going.”
On how he evaluates the secondary so far in fall camp
Thieneman: “I think the secondary’s been good. We’ve only been here about two weeks, two and a half weeks in fall camp. So there’s still a long way to go. I think we’ve made a lot of good plays, but then there’s still other plays that we leave on the table that we can still make.”
Top 10
- 1New
Eli Drinkwitz comes clean
Knew rule was broken
- 2
Deion Sanders
Fires back at media
- 3Hot
Big 12 punishes ref crew
Costly mistake in Kansas-Mizzou
- 4Trending
CFP Top 25
Predicting Top 25 after Week 2
- 5
National Title odds
Numbers shift after Week 2
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
On what excites him and gives him confidence in this defense
Thieneman: “I think just the potential the defense has. I know there’s some guys that have a lot more experience like Teitum (Tuioti), Matayo (Uiagalelei), Bryce (Boettcher). But then there’s other guys that have maybe not as much experience with the corners and the safeties and some of the other guys that were gonna be in the mix. So I feel like we can be a really good defense, we just gotta go out there and execute.”
On how he sees his role being different this year at Oregon compared to last season at Purdue
Thieneman: “I think Tosh calls a defense in a way that benefits his players and the players on the field, so it plays to their strengths. I think personally for me it’ll just be different positions, kind of wherever they see me. Trying to be flexible, kind of help the team wherever I can. So if they need me to play this spot, I’ll play this spot. They need me to move back, like free safety, do that. Kind of just doing whatever they need.”
On what he’s seen from other players since Trey McNutt‘s injury, next man up mentality in DB room
Thieneman: “Being a guy down, a lot more guys get a lot more reps. So there’s not as many people rotating, so there’s been the competition there to get more reps and to keep executing. But then there’s also the battle with getting tired, getting exhausted, so we keep pushing each other there just to keep going.”
