Deep Dive: Purdue training camp practice No. 5
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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 first in full pads.
• By now, many of you reading this saw the tweet Ryan Walters sent over the weekend soliciting a visit from Axl Rose, a Lafayette native and famed singer for Guns N’ Roses.
So, has Walters heard back?
“No, I have not, he said. “I have not. But he’s got an open invitation anytime, for sure.”
What sparked Walters to reach out via social media?
“A little birdie told me he might be around town,” said Walters. “So, trying to reach out.”
And, yes, Walters does have a favorite G N’ R song: “Paradise City.”
With such a lush collection of Guns N’ Roses songs, I’d have gone with “You Could Be Mine” or “Welcome to the Jungle.” Still, kudos to Coach Walters for trying to tap into a Lafayette icon.
Maybe Axl (born Bill Bailey who attended Lafayette Jeff with fellow G N’ R member Izzy Stradlin) sometime will show up in a Purdue bandana. How cool would that be? Way better than John Mellencamp.
Axl Rose (Ron Elkman/USA Today)
• The kicking competition between Spencer Porath and Ben Freehill marches on.
“They’re still battling it out,” said Walters. “They still need to get better, still early in camp, but they have to get it going.”
• Still inactive today: CB Tarrion Grant, WR Kam Brown, DL Joe Anderson and OL Rod Green. DL Damarjhe Lewis also was missing after being out on Friday. Those players were joined today by RE CJ Madden, along with OLs Corey Stewart and Joshua Sales. Walters says not to be alarmed.
“If we had a game today, a lot of those guys would be playing. But we don’t have a game today. So, I want to make sure that they’re fresh and ready to go August 31.”
• With Stewart and Sales out, Purdue had DJ Wingfield at No. 1 left tackle. Madden’s absence forced Shitta Sillah to the the first-team at rush end. And with no Lewis or Anderson, DL Joe Strickland came out with the No. 1 D.
• FWIW: Ryan Browne was the second QB up today.
• Walters on freshman WR Shamar Rigby: “He’s a long, tall guy, getting in and out of breaks for a freshman, he’s a physical presence out on the outside. Got great ball skills and can run.”
• Walters was in no mood to discuss a move from 85 to 105 scholarships in 2025, as the sport moves into a new era of revenue sharing. Understandably, his focus is on the here and now.
“I’m not even there, bro,” said Walters. “There’s now way I can get there.”
• Purdue will be back on the practice field on Tuesday. It will have its first scrimmage on Thursday.
Tarrion Grant
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