Top 30 Purdue football players: No. 30 WR Jayden Dixon-Veal

Purdue will begin preparations for the 2024 campaign soon in training camp, gearing toward the season-opener on August 31 at home vs Indiana State. Let’s count down the top 30 Boilermakers as we march to the start of Ryan Walters‘ second season in West Lafayette.

No. 30 Jayden Dixon-Veal, WR, Senior

Now is the time for Jayden Dixon-Veal to step up.

He showed flashes, took baby steps, last year after arriving from the College of San Mateo in California, playing in 11 games and making five starts. Could he start in 2024?

This is Boilermaker receiving unit that is begging for difference-makers. The position is in overhaul mode with Deion Burks, T.J. Sheffield, Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen, Elijah Canion, Mershawn Rice, Zion Steptoe and Curtis Deville all hitting the portal after last year.

The top returning receiver? Yep, it’s Dixon-Veal with 16. 

Aside from Dixon-Veal, the only other wideouts back who caught a passes for Purdue in 2023 are Jaron Tibbs (5) and Andrew Sowinski (3).

Crazy, huh?

He ended 2023 well, catching at least one pass in eight of the final nine games. A preview of things to come? The 6-0, 185-pounder lacks top-end speed, but Dixon-Veal is a sturdy target, zippy in and out of routes and flashes good hands.

Let’s see what No. 0 has as he battles for relevancy for a wideout unit that imported three players from the portal–CJ Smith and De’Nylon Morrissette of Georgia and UCLA’s Kam Brown–and a JC transfer–Leland Smith. And don’t forget about the four freshmen or Florida Atlantic transfer Jahmal Edrine, who is supposed to be the best of the all but missed last year after hurting a knee in camp.

You know what they say: JC transfers typically take a big step in Year Two. Well, this is Year Two for JDV. Whatcha got?

The post Top 30 Purdue football players: No. 30 WR Jayden Dixon-Veal appeared first on On3.