Purdue has some reinforcements coming off the open week on both sides of the ball.
Offense
QB
#15 Ryan Browne – R-Fr. – 6’4”, 210
or
#1 Hudson Card – Sr. – 6’3”, 210
#5 Marcos Davila – Fr. – 6’3”, 244
RB
#45 Devin Mockobee – Jr. – 6’0”, 207
or
# 23 Reggie Love – Sr. – 5’11”, 215
#3 Jaheim Merriweather – Fr. – 6’2”, 210
WR
#7 Jahmal Edrine – Jr. – 6’3”, 215
# 16 Shamar Rigby – Fr. – 6’3”, 187
#12 Leland Smith – So. – 6’4”, 219
WR
#13 Jaron Tibbs – So. – 6’3”, 214
# 26 Andrew Sowinski – Sr. – 6’0”, 205
#0 Jayden Dixon-Veal – Sr. – 6’0”, 190
WR
#9 CJ Smith – So. – 6’3”, 195
or
#8 De’Nylon Morrissette – So. – 6’1”, 200
#4 Kam Brown – Sr. – 6’1”, 185
TE
# 86 Max Klare – So. – 6’4”, 240
#82 Drew Biber – Jr. – 6’5”, 245
#81 George Burhenn – So. – 6’5”, 240
LT
#71 Corey Stewart – Sr. – 6’6”, 318
#79 Joey Tanona – So. – 6’5”, 304
LG
Mahamane Moussa – Jr. – 6’4”, 300
Luke Griffin – Sr. – 6’5”, 340
C
Gus Hartwig – Sr. – 6’5”, 305
Jalen Grant – Sr. – 6’3”, 285
RG
DJ Wingfield – Sr. – 6’4”, 316
Jadon Ball – Fr. – 6’5”, 300
RT
Marcus Mbow – Jr. – 6’5”, 300
Bakyne Coly – Jr. – 6’7”, 302
Notes
- The narrative around this game has centered around the quarterback position, where Hudson Card and Ryan Browne are anticipated to both play on Saturday.
- CJ Smith makes his much-awaited Purdue debut after suffering a serious hamstring injury towards the tail end of fall camp. I’m not about rust, but Purdue will have the fastest player on the field for the first time all season.
- George Burhenn looked like a difference maker in Purdue’s season ending victory over Indiana last season, hauling in 5 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. He was injured in the opener against Indiana State in the first game this season. He makes what is essentially his season debut on Saturday.
- On paper, outside of Ryane Browne sharing a piece of the quarterback position, this will be the first time Purdue features there anticipated pre-season wide receiver depth chart with the return of CJ Smith, along with a healthy Edrine.
Defense
DL
# 0 Jeffrey M’Ba – Sr. – 6’6”, 302
#18 Demeco Kennedy – Fr. – 6’2, 291
#98 Drake Carlson – R-Fr. – 6’3”, 290
DL
#91 Cole Brevard – Sr. – 6’3”, 333
or
#92 Mo Omonode – Jr. – 6’0”, 286
#97 Jamarrion Harkless – R.Fr. – 6’3”, 346
DL
#95 Joe Anderson – Sr. – 6’4”, 290
Jamarius Dinkins – Jr. – 6’5”, 280
#18 Demeco Kennedy – Fr. – 6’2, 291
Rush
#15 Will Heldt – So. – 6’6”, 265
#99 Jireh Ojata – Sr. – 6’4”, 267
LB
#4 Kydran Jenkins – Sr. – 6’1”, 253
#22 Owen Davis – R.Fr. – 6’3”, 245
LB
#14 Yanni Karlaftis – Jr. – 6’3”, 235
#40 Hudson Miller – So. – 6’0”, 235
Rush
#17 Shitta Sillah – Sr. – 6’4”, 251
#23 Trey Smith – R-Fr – 6’4”, 245
DB
#19 Bostros Alisandro – Jr. – 6’1”, 186
or
#2 Nyland Green – Jr. – 6’1”, 186
#16 Hudauri Hines – 6’1”, 203
DB
#31 Dillon Thieneman – So. – 6’0”, 207
#24 Anthony Brown – So. – 6’0”, 195
#25 Ty Hudkins – Fr. – 5’11”, 197
DB
#11 Antonio Stevens – Sr. – 6’2”, 217
#32 Joseph Jefferson – So. – 6’0”, 190
#24 Anthony Brown – So. – 6’0”, 195
DB
#6 Smiley Bradfor – Fr. – 6’0”, 195
#10 Kyndrich Breedlove – Jr. – 5’11, 185
#13 Koy Beasley – Fr. – 5’10”, 187
DB
#10 Kyndrich Breedlove – Jr. – 5’11, 185
#2 Nyland Green – Jr. – 6’1”, 185
#12 Tarrion Grant – Fr. – 6’2”, 197
Notes
- Two moves at the backup defensive end spot. Drake Carlson makes his first appearance on the two deeps coming off the open date. Freshman Demeco Kennedy slides over to back up Joe Anderson.
- The secondary was also reshuffled during the off week. Nyland Green returns but will share reps with Bostros Alisandro. I don’t think we’ve seen a healthy Green this season after dealing with a foot injury at the end of camp.
- Kyndrich Breedlove is now starting at corner instead of in the slot and has been Purdue’s best corner by a wide margin.
- Freshman Smiley Bradford gets a “start” (depending on how the other team lines up) at slot corner after playing well against Oregon in his first extended playing time of the season.
- Freshman Ty Hudkins makes his debut on the depth chart behind Thieneman.
- Anthony Brown moves from backing up the deep safety to backing up the strong safety on Saturday.
- Joseph Jefferson drops off the depth chart this week.
Overall
This is as healthy as Purdue has been on offense this season with the introduction of CJ Smith and reintroduction of George Burhenn. I wouldn’t be surprised to see both involved in the game plan coming off the open week. How the coaching staff utilizes quarterbacks Hudson Card and Ryan Browne will be the story, but both will have Purdue’s full complement of play makers at their disposal.
The second line of the defense got shuffled quite a bit, with young guys taking a more prominent role up and down the depth chart. Nyland Green returns to the lineup and should look better after getting some time off his sore foot. He’ll play a smaller role in the defense this week. Smiley Bradford, another true freshman, takes a spot in the starting lineup as Walters continues to shuffle the deck after dealing with some incredible attrition (both off field and on-field) at the corner position. Moving Breedlove to the outside gives the Boilermakers more experience at corner, but significantly less at the slot corner spot Bradford now occupies. This is the best secondary Purdue can put on the field, considering the roster, if (big if) Bradford can hold up in the slot.
This is it; this is a game Purdue should be competitive, if not a favorite. The coaches had two weeks to get the offense up to speed and make defensive adjustments. If Purdue has designs on spoiling the Big 10 down the stretch, they need to show something against Northwestern.
No clue if it will happen, but hope springs eternal.