Purdue has Thieneman and Jenkins, but who will be a breakout player for the 2024 season?
Coach Walters’ defense has two stars. Dillon Thieneman, the returning All-American Safety, and Kydran Jenkins, who is moving from Rush End to Middle Linebacker.
Those are two great football players at two important positions, but as you all know, it takes more than two to tango, or in this case to win football games, especially when you have one of the toughest schedules in the country.
Coach Walters’ and his staff hit the portal hard, looking for talent to fill their roster out after losing a solid senior class and players like Nic Scourton to the portal.
Here are three candidates, that could break out this fall for the aggressive Ryan Walters’ Defense.
- CJ Madden – Rush End, Georgia Transfer, Sophomore (RS)
Purdue is looking to replace nearly 20 sacks with the departure of Nic Scourton and the move of Kydran Jenkins to Middle Linebacker. Look no further than CJ Madden, who will be allowed to disrupt the opposing quarterbacks. Madden was deep on the depth chart at UGA, but most of the time you are until you are an upper classmen at a powerhouse like that. Look for Madden to make an immediate impact.
- Nyland Green – Cornerback, Georgia Transfer, Junior (RS)
The Purdue secondary got athletic REAL fast with the transfer portal and the 2024 freshman class. Gren is currently battling some injuries and appears as if he will not be healthy for the season opener against Indiana State. Green is a long and athletic corner that should be reliable this fall.
- Kyndrich Breedlove – STAR, Colorado Transfer, Junior (RS)
Breedlove after leaving Deion and Boulder will have an opportunity to start at the STAR position, which is a hybrid Nickel/Linebacker spot. Sanoussi Kane commanded the STAR position last year, but was not great in pass coverage when asked to be. Breedlove may not be run stopper than Kane was, but he should be a bit better in pass coverage.