Deep Dive: Purdue training camp practice No. 13
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It’s informative, it’s analytical, it’s opinionated, it’s the Deep Dive, a look at today’s football practice. The skies cleared for a beautiful day of pad-popping along Northwestern Avenue.
• Look who was out catching passes, doing some light work: WR Kam Brown. The UCLA transfer has not practiced in camp, coming off an offseason procedure. He had his right leg in a black sleeve as he caught passes from offensive analyst Jason Simmons. So, there was that. Good sight for the staff.
Brown is a sixth-year player who began his career at Texas A&M. He was one of three portal wideouts the staff brought in this offseason. One of the others also is out: Georgia’s CJ Smith, who will miss the opener (hamstring) but should be back for the Notre Dame game. (UGA’s De’Nylon Morrissette is the other portal WR.)
WR Kam Brown, a UCLA transfer, has yet to practice in camp as he comes off surgery. But he came out today to snag some passes.
• Yes, WR Jahmal Edrine was back. He was given a “vet ” day on Wednesday when the squad last practiced. Edrine is expected to be WR1. The plan: Just get No. 7 to game day after he missed 2023 with a knee injury suffered in August 2023 that cost him the season.
• Purdue DL coach Brick Haley’s nickname for NT Mo Omonode? “Tasmanian Devil.” Why?
“Because he is,” said Haley. “He’s all over the place. I can tell you, he’ll run through a wall if you ask, but he’s got to believe and trust in you, and I think that we’ve built that relationship together, and I think that’s why he plays the way he plays. The motor’s always been there. Now, he’s starting to fine-tune some of the techniques and fundamentals, and he’s becoming a better player day in and day out.”
Generously listed as being 6-0, Omonode plays with unmatched relentlessness … like his hair is on fire. He has to. The West Lafayette High product says his short stature helps to win the leverage game. Low man wins in football. And Omonode is awfully low. He may be the best interior DL on the squad.
• Special teams worked on specialty situations today:
-Onside kicks and hands team
-Kickoff after safety/penalty
-Long FG situations
-Clock situations with FG and punt
-Punt return rules with blocked kicks
-Punt clock situations and muff/touching rules
I am sure the brothers of KDR could hear ST coach Chris Petrilli from across Northwestern Avenue as they moved in couches and lava lamps!
• Three players practiced in red jerseys: ILB Winston Berglund, NT Cole Brevard, ILB Owen Davis.
Missing today: CB Nyland Green, DB Kyndrich Breedlove, OL Joey Tanona, WR CJ Smith, WR Kam Brown, DL Joe Anderson, DL Spider Dinkins, OL Rod Green, WR Jayden Dixon-Veal, OT Corey Stewart, TE George Burhenn, S Anthony Brown, DB Salim Turner-Muhammad and S Koy Beasley and OL John Randle.
• Back today: OT Joshua Sales, DL Drake Carlson.
• Yes, that was Poison’s “Nothin’ But A Good Time” you heard today while driving past the practice field toward Smitty’s.
• Who on the team should be first off the bus? My vote goes to DL Jeffrey M’Ba, one of the largest humans I have stood by. He’s listed at 6-6, 302. He has to be bigger. His native tongue is French, so he speaks with a heavy accent. DL coach Brick Haley said after M’Ba arrived from Auburn last year as a transfer, there were communication issues. (No, Haley doesn’t speak any French.) Look for M’Ba to take a big leap after dealing with adjustment issues in 2023 … at least that’s the hope.
• LS Nick Levy looks like he could legit play LB, if needed. I wouldn’t bet against the William & Mary transfer, who is a bulldog. Can’t believe I am this excited about a long-snapper.
• Scouts from the Dolphins, Lions, Giants and Bears were here. In fact, there were two Bears scouts on hand. One was Jeff Shiver, an iconic and long-time Bears talent evaluator who calls the Lafayette area home. They don’t come much nicer than Shiver! (No, he is not watching “Hard Knocks.”)
• The voice of Boilermaker basketball (and host of football radio broadcasts) Rob Blackman scoped out the scene today. He played a little football down at the University of Evansville, catching passes for the Purple Aces, after being BMOC at North White.
• Impressive to see WR Nolan Buckman do a side flip over a trash can running between drills.
Thanks for reading! The Boilermakers will practice Saturday and Sunday. (No scrimmages.) Off Monday, the first day of classes in West Lafayette. Do you have your mini-fridge, Walkman, Motor Board and campus map?
So, next time we will get access is for practice on Tuesday. See you then.
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