A double whammy today for the Jordan Day of the countdown.
It is a double whammy for the Jordan Day of the countdown, not shocking since the number 23 is so universally loved.
First, let’s start with Reggie Love III, who is going to provide Purdue with some veteran depth in the backfield for the first time in a long time.
Love, who played the entirety of his career at Illinois, quickly drove to Purdue to finish his collegiate career. He has had a solid college career leading into his final season of NCAA Football.
During the 2023 season, he started 7 games and played in 8, totaling over 500 yards rushing, the year before he was just over 300 yards, and in 2021, he had 158 total yards. He is nearing the 1,000-yard mark for his career, which I am sure he will obtain at Purdue this fall.
Love, at 5-11, 215 pounds has a little more meat on his bones than Devin Mockobee, who likes to use his elusive jukes to get him into open space. While Love can also do that, he provides a little more power in the backfield, which Purdue needed during the 2023 season.
Ironically enough, the other man to wear the number 23 is another Illinois transfer, Trey Smith.
Smith logged just two games last year as a true freshman for Illinois and was able to maintain his redshirt. Now, he will have the opportunity to play four full seasons at Purdue in the pass-rush-happy defense that Coach Ryan Walters runs.
He is listed as a Rush End, and at 6-5, 245 pounds, he has room to grow under strength coach Kiero Small.