Dillon Thieneman excels on Purdue's defense

In his inaugural season at Purdue, Dillon Thieneman emerged as a standout player, leading all freshmen nationally in interceptions and tackles while logging the most defensive snaps for the Boilermakers. Despite his individual success, the team faced significant challenges, finishing with only four wins and being projected last in the 18-team Big Ten Conference. Thieneman expressed that he thrives under pressure, indicating a readiness to tackle the upcoming season's expectations. Similarly, Houston quarterback Smith, who transferred from Texas Tech, had a promising first year but struggled to translate that into team success, as the Cougars also ended with four wins, two of which were in the Big 12. His performance was marred by a high interception rate, with 13 picks recorded, ranking him fourth among quarterbacks with over 350 attempts, according to SportRadar. Cincinnati's defensive tackle, Dontay Corleone, known as "The Godfather," faced health challenges earlier this summer due to blood clots, which limited his participation in preseason practices. Meanwhile, Michigan State's Montorie Foster Jr. is poised for a breakout season under new quarterback Aidan Chiles, who followed coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State. Foster's previous season saw him catch 43 passes for 576 yards and three touchdowns. Lastly, Ayomanor's potential remains overshadowed by his team's recent struggles, as they enter their first season in the 17-team ACC after three consecutive three-win seasons. Despite this, he earned SEC honors last year, leading Arkansas with 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.