Purdue RB Devin Mockobee hopes bigger is better

Bigger is better, right? That’s what Devin Mockobee hopes.

The Boilermaker running back was set on gaining weight and adding bulk in the offseason. Mission: Accomplished.

How much weight has the junior added?

“So, since last season, was playing around 190, 195,” fessed Mockobee, a consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten pick in 2023. “So, now I weighed in at 207 today, so definitely put that weight on.”

Mockobee was doing pretty before bulking up this offseason. He crashed the party as a precocious walk-on in 2022, leading Purdue with 968 yards on the ground when he set the school freshman record for rushing yards and attempts. Mockobee followed that by pacing Purdue in rushing again last year, running for 811 yards.

“Coming in, being a runner back at 191, 195 in the Big Ten, I’m kind of under-advantaged, obviously,” said Mockobee, who has six career 100-yard rushing games. “So, getting that weight on, getting some strength behind me with my speed I think was very beneficial for me. So, I’m in a really good spot right now.”

How did Mockobee transform his physique?

“I mean, it was just about eating clean and just getting my caloric intake,” he said. “But that was about it.”

Mockobee is expected to lead the Boilermakers’ rushing charge in 2024, working in tandem with Illinois transfer Reggie Love.

“I think Reggie is a really good, hard-nosed shifty guy, so I think that he’s gonna be really good for us sharing some snaps and getting the ball downhill for a 1-2 to attack,” said Mockobee. “I think you’re gonna see close to the same thing you saw last year (when Tyrone Tracy teamed with Mockobee to help Purdue rank third in the Big Ten in rushing with a 169.1-yard average).

Mockobee will be operating behind a veteran line that has been enhanced by four portal transfers. As a result, the front is deeper and bigger. Could the Boonville, Ind., native become Purdue’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Kory Sheets dashed for 1,131 yards in 2008?

“I mean, to get back to having a 1,000-yard rusher, I think it definitely would be special,” said Mockobee. “I’ve never one that’s chasing accolades, really, because the main thing is the main thing, but it definitely would be cool.”

Being bigger, stronger and heavier will help.

“For me, my main thing was my weight, but with weight comes, you don’t want to get slow with it,” he said. “So, just maintaining working out especially with Ro (strength coach Kiero Small) running the program. I think he does a great job with us. But the main thing was just keeping my speed and agility with it. I think we’ve done a really good job at that.”

So close to Purdue’s 1,000-yard club

Purdue has had several players come close to rushing for 1,000 yards the last 40-plus seasons. A look at the Boilermakers’ 900-yard rushers since 1982

SeasonPlayerRushing yards1982Mel Gray9161997Edwin Watson9272000Montrell Lowe9982003Jerod Void9522009Ralph Bolden9352014Akeem Hunt9492022Devin Mockobee968

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