Deep Dive: Training camp practice No. 1

It’s informative, it’s analytical, it’s opinionated, it’s the Deep Dive, a look at today’s football practice. A storm rolled in about an hour into practice, forcing the squad indoors to finish practice No. 1 on Wednesday.

• The squad was in just helmets, jerseys, “spiders” and shorts. And it will be for the first two practices.

• The key players I didn’t see in action: CB Tarrion Grant, OL Rod Green, WR Kam Brown and DL Joe Anderson. Green was seen walking the perimeter of the two practice fields with strength boss Kiero Small. Anderson is thought to be a projected starter; don’t know his issue. Brown had ice on his right knee. Not sure what’s wrong with Grant. Saw him walking down stairs to complex early on.

• Purdue did some full squad work. The No. 1 o-line looked like this, left to right:

T Corey Stewart, G Mahamane Moussa, C Gus Hartwig, G Jalen Grant, T Marcus Mbow. Another incarnation of the No. 1 line had DJ Wingfield at right guard. Just know a lot of combinations will be tried in August.

• The No. 1 d-line looked like this:

RE CJ Madden, Jeffrey M’Ba, NT Cole Brevard, T Damarjhe Lewis, RE Will Heldt.

• The No. 2 o-line looked like this, left to right:

T Joshua Sales, G Luke Griffin, C Jimmy Liston, G Jaden Ball, T Bakyne Coly. We have been telling you about Ball since the spring, a true freshman with a bright future. He could see action this fall. Coly looks like an NFL lineman, 6-7, 302. Remember, he came to Purdue from D3 Lawrence Tech before 2023. A real gem who looks destined to start at some time. Coly is the most NFL-looking o-lineman at Purdue since Grant Hermanns, I think. Hermanns looked the part and was pretty good.

• The No. 1 secondary today:

CB Markevious Brown, CB Nyland Green, S Dillon Thieneman, S Antonio Stevens. “Star” Kyndrich Breedlove was active, too. Lots more speed with Green and Breedlove.

• Five players who have made transformative body changes: Heldt, George Burhenn, Thieneman, Madden and Coly.

• RB Devin Mockobee is beefier, adding 12 pounds. Always marveled at how underdeveloped he was physically and could still be so productive. He looks more like a Big Ten back now. He’s one of the most unassuming stars I ever have encountered.

• The secondary was active, with Joseph Jefferson breaking up a pass and Derrick Rogers making an INT. The unit also forced a Reggie Love fumble that earned him laps around the practice the field.

• Ryan Browne was the next QB up today after Hudson Card. Marcos Davila was No. 3. In all, Purdue has seven signal-callers. Bennett Meredith is the No. 4 man. The other three are walk-ons: Jake Wilson, Christian Gelov and Carson Kitchel. Who will be No. 2? Will be something to monitor.

• Spencer Porath was the No. 1 kicker, no shocker. The Brownsburg, Ind., native showed a strong leg. So far, so good. The staff will chart him and Ben Freehill in camp. Gotta think this is Porath’s job to win. Ryan Walters was quick to point out today that the other aspects of special teams were solid in 2023.

“I thought our punt coverage and punt return and kick return and kickoff was decent,” he said today.

• Pass rush coach Preston Gordon always stays late with guys, working with Demeco Kennedy and Caleb Mitchell today.

• No doubt, the o-line passes the eyeball test. Sales is huge, along with Coly and JC Jaekwon Bouldin, among others. Mbow looks like he has worked on his body. Lots of options for the staff this fall up front. Will be fun to watch it sort out. Lots to like about the offense overall.

• Myriad players took turns fielding kicks. Looks like a long ways to go to sort out the return positions.

Purdue will be back on the practice field on Thursday.

Thanks for reading!

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