WEST LAFAYETTE – The Purdue football spring game will be at noon Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Coach Ryan Walters enters his second season coming off a Mark 4-8 in 2023.
There was no official spring game last season, but rather a simulated indoor game to end the spring season.
Now the Caldeireiros have depth to operate a game, although the format does not include punting and kicking. Instead, the NCAA punt average will determine where the ball will be located on potential punts, and after calling plays, the ball will be placed on the 25-yard line to begin the following series.
The first team’s attack will face the first team’s defense. Then the second teams will come. Instead of risking injury, plays where a short yardage to gain a first down or touchdown will automatically be considered a first down or TD.
Here are five things to watch for during Purdue’s spring game on Saturday.
Transfer captures from the portal
Purdue had a large presence in the transfer portal during the offseason and was among the best in college football in terms of pickups through the portal.
What to know: Transfer portal additions at cornerback seek to balance Purdue football defense
Several have an opportunity to play immediately, including a quartet of former Georgia Bulldogs: defensive back Nyland Green, defensive end CJ Madden and receivers De’Nylon Morrissette and CJ Smith. Boston College defensive end Shitta Sillah was a name Walters mentioned early in spring camp, and he expects former Illinois running back Reggie Love III to be a complement to Devin Mockobee.
Offensive line depth
One of the reasons Purdue was unable to hold a true spring game last year was a lack of depth, especially on offense.
The Boilermakers have not only made a point of upgrading size and talent, but also the number of players available on offense, after Purdue essentially fielded five players on game days late last season without being able to play 11-on-11 during the train. week.
From the size, you’ll notice college transfer Jaekwon Bouldin. He’s 6-foot-3 and 350 pounds.
Two guys who bring a lot of experience to keep an eye on, former New Mexico State forward DJ Wingfield and former Ball State standout Corey Stewart. College transfer Rod Green is an interesting name to know.
Backup QB
Hudson Card is the team’s first unit guy. And while we wait for the second unit to take the field, notice how much better Card is when healthy.
But on Thursday, offensive coordinator Graham Harrell wasn’t sure who would start on the second team. True freshman Marcos Davila looks like he could be the future, but for current team purposes, I would look for Ryan Browne and Bennett Meredith to fight for that role. The two split reps last season at Northwestern when Card was out with an injury.
Secondary look
Purdue was limited in the secondary last season, especially after a serious injury to Marquis Wilson and with Stanford transfer Salim Turner-Muhammad never seeing the field.
Markevious Brown is the starter and Anthony Brown played in 12 games, while Derrick Rogers and Botros Alisandro got a run at corner, but Purdue needed more. The Boilermakers captured Green, as well as Colorado’s Kyndrich Breedlove, from the portal.
Fast pass
Walters made a name for himself as a defensive coordinator not only with talented players in the secondary, but also by being able to confuse defenders with multiple looks and quick passes.
Last season, Nic Scourton and Kydran Jenkins were Purdue’s Bebop and Rocksteady (a reference to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Scourton enjoyed his breakout season, cashing in and heading to Texas A&M. Jenkins is back but is transitioning to inside linebacker, which is his perceived position at the next level.
So who takes on the role of putting defenders under attack?
Sillah is a name to know, as previously mentioned. But did Purdue pull off a transfer portal steal in Division III All-American Jireh Ojata from Franklin College? Will Heldt was ultimately a guy Purdue had to put on the field last season as a true freshman.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sing@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared in the Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue Football’s spring game is Saturday: 5 things to know
