BOILING OVER: Latest skinny on hoops, football 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/RECRUITING
• Camp starts on Aug. 2. Purdue has 25 practices to prep for the opener on Sept. 2 vs. Fresno State.
• Looks like Purdue will practice in the mornings this fall.
• Where does Purdue stand with its 2024 class? It currently has 21 commitments. The players the staff is active with are DL Demeco Kennedy, EDGE Jaylin Jones and TE Tayvion Galloway, who is visiting this week for the second time. Purdue has yet to land a tight end in this 2024 class, with Galloway the top target.
• Of that trio, Purdue appears to be in the best shape with Kennedy, who is expected to announce in August with the Boilermakers the likely leader. The staff also could add another d-lineman, but there are no known targets at this time.
• In addition to Galloway, Purdue played host to a pair of 2025 QBs this week: Findlay, Ohio’s four-star Ryan Montgomery and Dallas’ three-star Sawyer Anderson. Montgomery has offers from schools like Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia and Penn State. Anderson has offers from the likes of Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Ole Miss and TCU.
• Purdue still may take an ILB. Could the staff perhaps flip Desman Stephens (Boston College commit) and/or Elijah Groves (Kentucky commit)? Something to keep on your radar. Each came close to committing to Purdue.
• Always remember that if a great player wants to come, Purdue obviously wouldn’t turn anyone away regardless of position.
• Typically a guard, Marcus Mbow will begin camp at tackle, opposite of Mahamane Moussa. Purdue’s other options at tackle are Daniel Johnson and Ben Farrell. The tackle spots have some concerns.
• At media day, Ryan Walters was asked who were some “freaks” on his team. He mentioned WR Deion Burks right away calling him an “action figure.” Burks runs upwards of 22 mph, according to data collected during workouts. Another fast player Walters mentioned: true freshman S Dillon Thieneman.
• It sounds like staffers will have a hand in special teams, with duties divvied up among assistants and Chris Petrilli serving as special teams analyst. Petrilli is not counted among the 10 full-time assistants.
• Yes, Walters grew up in Colorado and played for the Buffs. But he pledges his allegiance to Purdue. “My home is in West Lafayette,” he said at media days. Walters “couldn’t be more excited” to be head coach at Purdue. I type this because some fear Walters could be a target for the CU job when Deion Sanders leaves Boulder. By the way: Walters does not know Coach Prime.
PURDUE BASKETBALL
It’s hard to foresee a meaningful playing role for redshirt freshman Will Berg this season, but this summer has marked a bit of a transformational moment in the big man’s development.
The surgery he underwent following the season removed bone spurs in his foot that had been problematic for quite some time. What this says about the sports-medicine oversight he received in Sweden, I don’t know, but since the surgery, he’s been quicker, more agile and lighter on his feet, all really key developments for him. (Keep in mind, all that stuff is relative for a 7-foot-2 guy.)
As he basically re-redshirts this year, you might consider this a reset of sorts in terms of Purdue figuring out what it has here. Doesn’t seem like there’s anything stopping him from seeing some minutes over in Europe. He’s been practicing every other day or so for the past few weeks. (BN)
• As noted earlier this week here, Mason Gillis broke his nose in practice and missed at least one practice getting it set. But as far as we know, he’s playing in Europe and won’t need surgery in the short term.
• Purdue assistant coaches Paul Lusk, Terry Johnson and Brandon Brantley all attended the NCAA Academy in Memphis this week. Trent Burns and EJ Walker were down there, among others.
• Big Ten media day is back in Minneapolis this year. Yay! This time, though, there’s some logic behind it, as the Target Center will also host the Big Ten Tournament in March.
ROSS-ADE UPDATE
A visit with Mike Bobinski earlier this week re-affirmed that Ross-Ade is expected to be ready for action when Purdue faces Fresno State on Sept. 2. The Purdue AD said the large crane on the Rohrman Field was scheduled to be removed Thursday and that the Bermuda surface will have about four weeks to get ready. Construction crews are working day and night to install the seating in the north end and to ready the Tiller Tunnel. (AK)
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