Purdue offensive position unit rankings

It’s a new era in West Lafayette, and Purdue head coach Ryan Walters hired Graham Harrell to install a new-look offense ahead of the 2023 season. The Boilermakers hope to blend air-raid passing principles with a formidable run game to continue the school’s tradition of high-flying offensive play.

The offense will look different this year in more ways than one. Harrell’s system differs from Jeff Brohm’s, but the roster also underwent a significant turnover from the one that won the Big Ten West a season ago. Aidan O’Connell, Charlie Jones and Payne Durham all graduated and moved on to NFL careers, and Purdue replaces three key offensive linemen.

How do the position groups on offense stack up entering the 2023 season? GoldandBlack.com ranks them.

TIGHT END

Now healthy following a season-ending injury in fall camp last season, Garrett Miller leads the Purdue tight end group into 2023. The athletic tight end showed Purdue fans dynamic ability, highlighted by a 40-yard catch-and-run against Northwestern in 2020 and an eight-reception, 74-yard performance against Michigan State in 2021.

Miller’s athleticism makes him an intriguing pro prospect, but he’s not the only pass-catching option in this room. Paul Piferi demonstrated his capability last season, catching ten passes for 143 yards in limited action behind Durham. The converted quarterback will look to build on last year as he enters his third campaign as a tight end.

Young players provide intrigue for the future, as well. Max Klare, Drew Biber and George Burhenn bring athletic ability to the table. While action could be hard to come by in 2023, each could factor into Purdue’s future on offense. This room should give Purdue production.

RUNNING BACK

The emergence of Devin Mockobee stood out as one of Purdue’s top stories from the 2022 season. The walk-on from Boonville, Ind. began the season fourth on the depth chart before finishing the season with the all-time record for rushing yards from a freshman at Purdue.

Four 100-yard performances highlighted Mockobee’s breakthrough season, as he came up just short of becoming Purdue’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2008 (Kory Sheets). He’ll look to accomplish that this season as the unquestioned top tailback, but he’ll see some help in the backfield as well.

Tyrone Tracy moved from wide receiver to running back during spring practice. The sixth-year senior played receiver for four seasons at Iowa before transferring to his home state ahead of last season. Now at running back, Purdue hopes Tracy can benefit from a simplified role where he can get the ball and use his speed.

Dylan Downing joined Mockobee in receiving scholarships from Walters and company, and he returns to the backfield after carrying the rock 137 times over the past two seasons as a walk-on. Downing doesn’t possess the same burst of speed that Mockobee and Tracy do, but he’s a big, physical back who can help in short-yardage situations.

Should Purdue need a fourth running back, two true freshmen will compete for a chance. Christian Womack committed to the Boilermakers very late in the 2023 recruiting cycle, and giant 6-3, 240-pound “athlete” Mondrell Dean is working at running back in camp.

QUARTERBACK

It’s Hudson Card’s team, plain and simple. After two years of quarterback competitions at Texas, the highly-touted quarterback arrived in West Lafayette in January as the unquestioned starting signal caller and leader of the team.

He holds the keys to the air-raid passing attack, and the praise of his accuracy should mesh well with what Purdue will ask him to do: get the ball quickly to receivers with room to run. All early feedback about the native Texan seems overwhelmingly positive, but the proof will need to come on September 2 when the games begin.

Behind Card, it’s a question mark. Redshirt freshman Bennett Meredith came over from Arizona State this spring, and Ryan Walters expressed confidence in him at Big Ten Media Days. Nonetheless, Meredith has yet to throw a pass in a college game.

True freshman Ryan Browne enters with a strong prep resumé, but jumping to the Big Ten takes some adjustment. James Madison transfer and West Lafayette native Kyle Adams returned to his hometown before last season and impressed during spring practices. Where does he stack up?

It’s not hyperbole to say Purdue will go as far in 2023 as Card can take it. With unproven backup options and a new offensive system, the Boilermakers need Card to play at a high level week-in and week out to reach a bowl game for the third-consecutive season.

WIDE RECEIVER

Under the previous regime, Purdue became known for strong wide receiver play. Over the past five seasons, three different Boilermaker receivers earned All-American honors (Rondale Moore, David Bell, Charlie Jones). When looking at this year’s receiving corps, however, it’s tough to envision someone making the leap to an elite level.

TJ Sheffield returns as Purdue’s most proven receiver, with over 800 yards and nine touchdown receptions to his name over the past three seasons. Outside of Sheffield, Purdue’s returning receivers bring intriguing athletic ability to the table but haven’t proven much in games to this point.

Mershawn Rice and Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen arrived on campus with much promise, but injuries have marred their careers thus far. Now healthy, they’ll look to shine in the simplified pass game. Deion Burks brings top-end speed to the table, and the air-raid system could fit his skill set quite well. Elijah Canion missed virtually all of last season after an injury in the opener, but his giant frame provides a unique element that the Boilermakers lack.

Jahmal Edrine transferred from FAU, where he pulled in 39 passes for 570 yards last season. He could earn one of the starting spots, while JuCo product Jayden Dixon-Veal flipped from Oregon State to Purdue late in the summer cycle. Purdue enters the season with real depth at receiver, but questions remain as to how dynamic this room truly is.

OFFENSIVE LINE

After impressive work as redshirt freshmen, Mahamane Moussa and Marcus Mbow return to anchor the Purdue offensive line in 2023. Moussa returns to left tackle, where he put together a strong second half of the season after moving into a starting role. After starting at right guard last season, Mbow will start camp at right tackle, where Purdue lacks the depth it has on the interior of the offensive line.

Gus Hartwig returns with three seasons of starting experience at center, but after a knee injury in November, it’s unlikely that he can suit up to start the season. Purdue will look to its large group of transfer offensive linemen to start the season at center with Jalen Grant and Austin Johnson the most likely to earn that spot.

Joining Grant and Johnson as transfers in the mix to start at center and guard are Luke Griffin and Preston Nichols, while returner Daniel Johnson and Indiana Wesleyan transfer Ben Farrell look to compete for reps at tackle.

Purdue should feel good about the interior of the offensive line, especially once Hartwig returns to action. Until then, it will look for the right combination on the interior and pray for good health at both tackle spots.

More: Five players to watch in Purdue’s fall camp, Five Purdue players in need of a big camp, Purdue training camp preview: Five burning questions

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