We’ve got two players on the countdown today.
It’s now less than two weeks until we get to watch Purdue football together once again. No matter how difficult the schedule I’m always ready to watch Purdue football. So, let’s get into it.
Player: Jesse Watson
Position: WR
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Year: Freshman
Height: 5’9
Weight: 168 lbs
2024 Outlook: Redshirt
Watson comes to Purdue after playing in three Illinois 6A state finals including bringing home the championship in 2022. He compiled 865 all-purpose yards during his senior season and accounted for seven touchdowns. He was Honorable Mention All-State as a senior.
You don’t have to know a ton about football to look at those measurables and see that Watson has some work to do to see the field. There’s likely not much to be done about that height unless a sudden growth spurt is just around the corner, but he can certainly put on some weight during the year that will likely be spent redshirting. There’s no shame in that. We will check back on him in a year’s time.
Player: Kyndrich Breedlove
Position: DB
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Previous School: Colorado & Ole Miss
Year: Junior
Height: 5’11
Weight: 185 lbs
2024 Outlook: Starting LB/DB/STAR
Breedlove comes to Purdue following one season at Colorado and two seasons at Ole Miss. He didn’t make a huge impact at Ole Miss appearing in 10 games over two seasons. He only played in one game in his sophomore season where he appeared on special teams. After those two seasons he hit the portal and wound up in Colorado playing with Coach Prime. As Coach Prime is wont to do, Breedlove only stayed for one season before being shunted out of the way for the next shiny new prospect.
During his time in Colorado, Breedlove appeared in nine games and recorded 12 tackles. He also recovered a fumble on a two point conversion and ran it back for the rare defensive points on a two point conversion. First time a Colorado player had done that since 1991.
Breedlove will be given an opportunity to start at the STAR position for Purdue which is a hybrid linebacker defensive back spot. It’s going to be a pivotal position for this team as I know there have been plenty of questions about the linebacking corps. As of now, he starts out the season with the opportunity to entrench himself in the starting role.