The 3-2-1: Purdue roster spiced with SEC flavor
SEC flavored roster, center depth being tested, Purdue’s going with a retro look, opportunity looms at wideout … It’s time for … the 3-2-1.
Three things learned
1 – It just means more
That’s the mantra of the powerful SEC, which has won the last four national championships. Purdue tapped into that SEC vein of talent in the offseason, importing eight players from the conference among the 19 portal additions made by the Boilermakers. The roll-call …
DL Malik Langham (Vanderbilt)
DL Isaiah Nichols (Arkansas)
DL Jeffrey M’Ba (Auburn)
DB Braxton Myers (Ole Miss)
DB Markevious Brown (Ole Miss)
DB Anthony Brown (Arkansas)
OL Luke Griffin (Missouri)
LS Daniel Hawthorne (Missouri)
These players join four other SEC players who already were on the Purdue roster: WR Elijah Canion (Auburn); DL Joe Anderson (South Carolina); CB Jamari Brown (Kentucky) and LB OC Brothers (Auburn).
Add it all up, and Purdue has 12 former SEC players on its roster. But Nichols says it’s all about being in the Big Ten now.
“We’re here, we’re present,” said Nichols. “We’ve been where our feet are at. We’re in the Big Ten now. I’m just excited to see all the opponents. The only Big Ten team I’ve ever played before is Penn State in a bowl game. So, I’m looking forward to seeing how the league is different and seeing all the new competition that there is in the rest of the league, so (the SEC is) all behind us.”
2 – Purdue is down to its No. 3 center
Josh Kaltenberger was snapping with the first-team in camp as Gus Hartwig worked his way back from a knee injury. But Kaltenberger had a knee rolled up on in practice last week. He is expected to be back within the first few weeks of the season. Stay tuned.
With Hartwig–who also is not expected to be ready for the start of the season–and Kaltenberger both out, Purdue has turned to Colorado transfer Austin Johnson to snap. Jalen Grant also could snap, but he has been the No. 1 right guard.
It will be interesting to see how the center slot fleshes out by the time we get to the opener on Sept. 2 vs. Fresno State.
3 – Purdue is going retro
The program revealed on Friday a uniform look that hearkens to the Joe Tiller era. Why not tap into the feel-good vibes of one of the most successful eras in program history? I like it!
MORE: Purdue Football 2023 Training Camp Content Hub
Two questions
1 – Who must step up with WR Jahmal Edrine out?
Ryan Walters confirmed that the Florida Atlantic wideout is done for the season with a knee injury suffered in camp earlier this month. He was expected to play a key role in 2023. Now, Purdue will look to Canion to step up. Others to watch: Mershawn Rice, Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen and JC arrival Jayden Veal-Dixon.
2 – How will Joe Tiller be honored in the tunnel bearing his name?
Tiller Tunnel will be dedicated during the Sept. 30 homecoming game vs. Illinois. Not only will the tunnel bear his name, but a plaque with the likeness of Tiller also will be part of the structure afixed to the wall outside of the entrance to the tunnel.
Tiller went 87-62 overall and 53-43 in the Big Ten with 10 bowl trips in 12 seasons as Boilermaker coach from 1997-2008. He passed away in September of 2017 at age 74 after battling health issues.
One prediction: Deion Burks will be the go-to WR
The 5-11 redshirt sophomore was described as an “action figure” by Ryan Walters during Big Ten media days in July. No doubt, Burks is one of the freakier players on the Boilermakers roster, reportedly running upwards of 22 mph.
He’s quick, explosive and strong, able to run past defenders or power through them. In short, Burks looks primed to be Purdue’s No. 1 target.
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