BOILING OVER: Purdue basketball recruiting visits, football training camp notes and more

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PURDUE BASKETBALL RECRUITING

News: We expect Purdue to have 2026 target Luke Ertel on campus next weekend for an unofficial visit.

As has been well documented here, the Mount Vernon guard is a live target for Purdue who’ll be the first tell you he will not have any reservations about making an early commitment, with Purdue looming especially large there in our view. Butler and Wake Forest have offered too.

But getting him on campus for a real recruiting visit — and not just a team camp, as has been the case numerous times before — could accelerate things for Purdue here, as it may find itself landing a 2026 commitment before landing anyone in 2025, a process that will go deep into fall, it seems.

Just to recap Trent Sisley (Sept. 6 weekend), Antione West and Tre Singleton (Sept. 14) and Sebastian Williams-Adams (Sept. 20) visits are a go for the 2025 class. If Braylon Mullins is going to visit, it would be that weekend of the 20th, we think, but someone is probably gonna get lost in the shuffle as he seems intent to visit a bunch of schools and Alabama has also been in play for a visit that weekend of the 20th so …. Midweek visits are possible, but seem highly unlikely given that school is in session.

He’s already been to UConn. There’s some thought that Mullins may be averse to going that far from home. He is a long shot for Purdue. (BN)

PURDUE BASKETBALL

• Players come back this weekend for the resumption of practice Monday. To recap, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer and Will Berg stayed in West Lafayette. Braden Smith spent some time in L.A. training, but came back last week. Everyone will be around to stay starting this weekend.

Jaden Ivey has actually been on campus, too, the past few days working out.

PURDUE FOOTBALL

• With WR CJ Smith out for the opener vs. Indiana State because of a hamstring issue, who will start in his place? There’s still a lot to shake out in the next week or so.

Jahmal Edrine will be one starter. After that? Jaron Tibbs, Shamar Rigby, Leland Smith, De’Nylon Morrissette, and Jayden Dixon-Veal are in the mix. Kam Brown, too, depending on how he looks coming off offseason surgery and having not practiced in camp. Keep an eye on Tibbs, who probably has a lead in that group right now. The Cathedral product has a bright future. (TD)

• Purdue also will be without CB Nyland Green (foot) in the opener. Botros Alisandro, Derrick Rogers and Tarrion Grant are battling to start opposite Markevious Brown vs. Indiana State.

Smith and Green are expected to be back for Game 2 vs. Notre Dame. (TD)

• Much has been made about Devin Mockobee bulking up to 207 pounds. His first three years, he just didn’t prioritize eating enough. He has a high metabolism, sweats off a lot of weight in training. And he gets full quickly when eating. (TD)

RB coach Lamar Conard spoke with his parents about it. They explained his eating habits from their perspective. Thankfully, Mockobee embraced the changes that were needed and has done a great job of holding himself accountable, having gained over 10 pounds. He’s up to 207. (TD_

• Why is Gus Hartwig called “The Admiral”? The moniker was started by former o-line coach Dale Williams, who dubbed Hartwig with that nickname after the Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar because Hartwig’s large helmet looked like Ackbar’s head. (TD)

• It’s looking like Dillon Thieneman will return punts. Why not get the ball in the hands of one your fastest/best players? Iowa did the same thing in recent years with its star safety, Cooper DeJean. (TD)

PURDUE FOOTBALL RECRUITING

• 2026 Tennessee CB Zyntreacs Otey tells us he will go public with his commitment at 11 am CT on Monday. He’s a three-star On3 prospect who is transferring from Riverdale High to Battle Ground Academy in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (TD)

• No word on when 2025 Fort Wayne Homestead ILB Sam Steward will go public with his commitment. (TD)

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