The 3-2-1: WRs in, WRs out. How will position do in 2024?
Three things learned. Two questions. One bold statement. It’s time for the 3-2-1, a look at Purdue football.
Three things learned
1 – Wideout turnover
No position underwent more tumult via the portal than receiver with Deion Burks, T.J. Sheffield, Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen, Elijah Canion, Mershawn Rice, Zion Steptoe and Curtis Deville all leaving after last year. And those were just the scholarship receivers who bolted. Purdue also saw walk-on Trey Firestone leave.
That’s eight–8!–wideouts that left after 2023. Oh, and TE Garrett Miller (Texas A&M) also bolted.
Canion became the latest former Purdue receiver to find a home, landing at Liberty on Monday. Burks (Oklahoma), Sheffield (UConn), Yaseen (South Florida), Steptoe (Tulsa) and Firestone (Ball State) all have landing spots. Only Rice and Deville remain available.
The top returning pass catcher? TE Max Klare with 22. The top returning receiver? Jayden Dixon-Veal with 16. In between those two is RB Devin Mockobee, who made 19 receptions in 2023. Add it up, and Purdue returns only 71 of 234 catches (30 percent) from 2023. Aside from Dixon-Veal, the only other wideouts back who caught a passes for Purdue in 2023 are Jaron Tibbs (5) and Andrew Sowinski (3).
Into the WR void: CJ Smith and De’Nylon Morrissette of Georgia and UCLA’s Kam Brown. And JC transfer Leland Smith gets here later this month. And will any of the four freshmen step up?
2 – Search continues for portal help
By our count, Purdue has three scholarships available. The biggest needs appear to the defensive line, rush end and long snapper.
It’s thought the staff would like to add a starting quality d-lineman. Competition is always fierce for top-end defensive linemen. It won’t be cheap. Rush end? Purdue likely would be happy with the best available player at the position, a guy who can provide some depth off the bench. The long-snapper would be a back up to recently committed Nick Levy. If not the portal, Purdue will look to the JC ranks for another long-snapper. And the staff also expects to net a snapper from its June 1st specialist camp.
3 – Future of collectives
As part of a proposed NCAA vs. House settlement, reports have stated that a $20 million line item for SEC and Big Ten athletic departments — revenue-sharing for players — is coming when things are brought in-house. But, collectives like the Boilermaker Alliance will still exist even when things go in house for schools and this $20 million line item is in place.
Every Big Ten school will probably be in a spot where they have $20 million annually for in-house NIL. The separator will be how much more a collective can add to that total.
Two questions
1 – True freshman sleeper?
Keep an eye on incoming S Ty Hudkins. The 6-0, 182-pound product of Forest Hills Central High in Grand Rapids, Mich., has a lot of Dillon Thieneman traits. Hudkins originally was committed to Northwestern. But when a slot emerged in Purdue’s 2024 class, Hudkins seized it. And there already is some buzz building around him.
Hudkins is part of a deep and talented well of safeties in the Boilermakers’ 2024 class that also includes Koy Beasley, Smiley Bradford, Luke Williams and D’Mon Marable.
2 – More bowl?
Sounds like that may be the case.
Per reports, the NCAA transformation committee has made it clear more postseason opportunities are desired in all sports. Yes, the NCAA has no stake in the college football playoff or the 42 bowl, which include the CFP. Still, leaders are attracted to the trend in other NCAA sports. To win: Dialogue about growing the men’s hoops tourney to as many as 80 teams.
This, even though not enough bowl-eligible teams were available in each of the last three seasons. On top of that, the games are often cheapens with myriad quality players opting out.
No payment to a player will be high enough for him to risk an NFL career by playing in a meaningless bowl game outside of the CFP.
One bold statement: Purdue will be favored in four games
Was looking at 2024 schedule recently. And, it has its challenges with games vs. the likes of Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon. And a trip to Wisconsin is always daunting. What games does Purdue figure to be favored in? My guess:
Indiana State, at Oregon State, Nebraska, Northwestern and at Indiana. But, the Boilers could be slight underdogs at Oregon State and at IU. But, for now, I’ll say Purdue is a slight favorite in each tilt. Let’s call these five games “must wins.”
That leaves two “swing games” that figure to determine bowl hopes: at Illinois, at Michigan State.
What do you think?
Bottom line: The Boilermakers are likely gonna need to be good at winning close games if they want to go bowling.
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