With all eyes on Indianapolis for the 2026 NFL Combine this week, a select few players are taking advantage, using the platform to improve their draft stock ahead of the draft in April.
Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman was one of those players on Friday afternoon.
After some impressive measurements and jumping numbers, Thieneman toed the line for the 40-yard dash and turned heads, running a blazing 4.37 (unofficial) on his first attempt. He bettered that on his second attempt, running an official 4.35, one of the fastest times in Oregon program history.
Thieneman's 4.35 is the fourth-fastest among all safeties in the combine.
Based on his college production and his film, Thieneman was already projected to be a Round 1 or Round 2 draft selection, but with how he's performing so far at the combine, it wouldn't be a shock to start seeing him in the first-round mix quite a bit more. Here's how Oregon fans and the NFL world at large reacted to his blazing 40-time on Friday.
The Run
4.35 official for @DillonThieneman 🔥 #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork#GoDuckspic.twitter.com/aldHNuBVVh
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) February 27, 2026
"Sneaky Athlete"
Yeah Dillon Thieneman huge winner of the day. People thought he was “sneaky atheltic” because of his skin tone but in reality dude is a freak athlete. Not to mention an unreal football player. pic.twitter.com/ATSb8OT5ge
— Brentley Weissman (@Brentley12) February 27, 2026
Bruce Feldman is In
Oregon DB Dillon Thieneman runs an unofficial 4.37 40. He’s crushing it in Indy. https://t.co/JOm7na3mR8
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 27, 2026
Putting On a Show
Dillon Thieneman is putting on a freaking clinic right now
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) February 27, 2026
Rising Stock
Dillon Thieneman stock is on the RISE📈
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 27, 2026
4.37 forty yard dash time on his 1st attempt😮💨pic.twitter.com/zCgUtOOIPc
Faster Than WHO?
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman ran a 4.37 40-yard dash — faster than Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs and A.J. Brown 🤯 pic.twitter.com/D0HAdsP9Z6
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 27, 2026
Checking Every Box
Extremely smooth from Dillon Thieneman. Checked every box today.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) February 27, 2026
📈📈📈 pic.twitter.com/UreH1BrO76
Mina Kimes is In
Ooh baby. Looks fast on tape but I didn’t know he was *this* fast. https://t.co/LLXobJ8ppZ
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) February 27, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: NFL world reacts to Dillon Thieneman's blazing 40-yard dash time