BOILING OVER: Latest football recruiting buzz and more
Welcome to “BOILING OVER,” GoldandBlack.com’s weekly information clearinghouse, a spot for assorted bits of Purdue news, analysis and so on and so forth, intended for GoldandBlack.com members and GoldandBlack.com members only.
Please welcome new BOILING OVER sponsor T&W Design and Build, an Indianapolis construction management company since 1968 with proud Purdue graduates that specialize in changing the way customers think about construction.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
• Purdue is slated to begin fall drills on Tuesday, August 1. Before that, Big Ten media days will be at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on July 26-27.
Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers will have their day on July 26.
Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin will have their day on July 27.
• The $45 million Ross-Ade renovation project remains on schedule to be ready for the opener on Sept. 2 vs. Fresno State. Below is a current look at the nutrition center being built in the north end zone. Unlike the south end zone and tunnel, it won’t be ready until 2024 but is not essential to game day.
• Purdue recently held a JPC donor retreat in Wyoming, the third time it has held one. It is done for people who support JPC at a certain level and above. Last year, the retreat was held in Asheville, N.C.
AD Mike Bobinski gave a Purdue athletics state of the union address and took questions.
Nutrition/dining complex under construction in north end zone of Ross-Ade Stadium.
PURDUE FOOTBALL RECRUITING
• Purdue, along with Kentucky and N.C. State, made the top three for 2024 ILB Elijah Groves, who is supposed to announce his school on July 1st. Word is, Groves–of East Robertson High in Cross Plains, Tenn.–will pick between Purdue and UK. Could go either way.
• Purdue is very much involved with 2024 DB Leontre Bradford. In fact, the Boilermakers may land the East St. Louis (lll.) product, who has taken an OV to Purdue. But it can be difficult to get a grasp of what Bradford will do, as he still may take some visits. He has been all over the place during the process. Stay tuned. Purdue already has a commitment from Bradford’s East St. Louis teammate: WR Jesse Watson.
• 2024 CB William “Speedy” Nettles of the Dallas (Texas) Christian School took an OV to SMU last week. He is expected to announce his college around July 4. Purdue looks well-position.
• Other 2024 recruits on commitment watch in addition to Groves, Bradford and Nettles:
WR Tra’Mar Harris: Announces on Friday. Purdue has a good chance with him.
DL Jamari Payne: Not sure when he’ll announce, but it could be for Purdue when he does.
OL John Randle: Will announce his school on Saturday … and it may be Purdue.
DL Demeco Kennedy: He is fresh off an OV to Illinois. Kennedy was a prep teammate of current Boilermaker NT Jamarrion Harkless. Kennedy isn’t expected to announce his pick until August. Purdue may be the school to beat.
• Purdue hasn’t closed the door on nationally recruited 2024 OT Marques Easley, who has announced a final three of Oklahoma, Tennessee and Alabama. The mammoth lineman from Kankakee, Ill., visited West Lafayette in the spring. Easley isn’t expected to make a decision until closer to signing day in December. Purdue still talks to and recruits him. Yes, it’s a long shot to land Easley, but it’s a long time until December, too. If Purdue gets hot this season and can get him back on campus in the fall, anything could happen.
• Purdue currently has 16 commitments in its Class of 2024, ranking 25th in the nation, according to On3. The class is No. 6 in the Big Ten.
ATH Koy Beasley‘s commitment on Wednesday night was the biggest yet for Walters. Beasley has been told he could play offense or defense. He also will get a look as a return man.
• Should Purdue’s class finish among the Top 25 in the nation, however, Ryan Walters isn’t in line to receive a bonus, as no such “recruiting class rank bonus” appears in his contract obtained by GoldandBlack.com earlier this year.
• Purdue is gaining traction with Jeremiah McClellan, a four-star 2024 WR from CBC High in St. Louis, one of the top programs in the Midwest. Schools like Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame and LSU have offered. Credit Boilermaker wideout coach Cory Patterson with making headway with this blue-chipper. McClellan’s recruitment could drag out, but he’s talking and saying positive things about Purdue for now.
• A recruiting “dead” period started on June 27 and runs until July 24. From July 25-31 is a “quiet” period, when juniors can’t make official visits. Things go “dead” again August 1 and then an “evaluation” period starts September 1.
• Purdue had four-star Ohio TE Tayvion Galloway in for an OV last week. He likes the recruiting process and figures to go well into the season before making a decision.
• The plan is for Colorado portal OL Austin Johnson to arrive in July. An interior offensive lineman, Johnson would be Purdue’s 18th portal addition. And he would be the sixth offensive lineman to arrive via the portal this offseason, joining Bakyne Coly, Ben Farrell, Jalen Grant, Luke Griffin and Preston Nichols. Purdue also has added a long-snapper via the portal: Daniel Hawthorne.
• Purdue will keep space available to add more portal talent, if needed. But, it’s not actively recruiting anyone currently in the portal.
The post BOILING OVER: Latest football recruiting buzz and more appeared first on On3.
