Spring practice No. 1 is in the books. Let's take a DEEP DIVE!
YANNI KARLAFTIS IS LOOKING FOR A HOME. AND IT MAY BE AT LEO.
1. Iowa transfer Tyrone Tracy could be a real weapon. Think of him as a glitzier version of Jackson Anthrop, able to play wideout, receiver and return kick. The Indianapolis native could be a difference-maker for an offense that needs some juice. Tracy wears No. 3. Make a note of it.
2. At 6-3, 225, Yanni Karlaftis looks like a Big Ten player after missing spring ball in 2021 recovering from a hamstring injury. He worked out with the defensive line and linebackers on Monday. He got quite a bit of work at LEO, a spot Jeff Brohm says Karlaftis has expressed an interest in playing. So, he may settle in on the edge.
"Yanni will play multiple positions," said Jeff Brohm. "He's expressed a desire to want to play our defensive end position. So, we want to give him a look there. We also still want to look at him at the linebacker in the box, as well. He's worked really hard. He's got stronger, he's finally fully healthy. He wants to go out and prove himself. So, we're going to give him a look at both of those spots, multiple positions and multiple times and just kind of see what he feels most comfortable with. But we do want to get him on the field."
3. Jeff Brohm seemed impressed by Brady Allen’s first practice as a Boilermaker. The four-star talent looks the part, every bit of 6-5/6-6. He has a long torso and physique that resembles Peyton Manning. Allen even wears No. 18. Not saying the 2021 Indiana Mr. Football is Manning, but Allen drips with promise. He throws a tight pass, but seemed to have some issues with the speed of the college game. Gonna be fun watching Allen the next few seasons.
4. It was a bit odd not to see former WR coach JaMarcus Shephard on the field. He had been on Jeff Brohm’s first five staffs. And it was impossible not to hear and notice the demonstrative Shephard, who brought a lot of energy and mojo to the field. His replacement as WR coach Garrick McGee is much more reserved. McGee is a bright mind who will bring a lot of acumen to the staff.
5. Redshirt freshman WR Preston Terrell made some nice grabs. And true freshman early enrollee WR Zion Steptoe is a smooth-operator. TE Paul Piferi is every bit of 6-5, 240. He looked good on Monday, giving Purdue three nice options at a deep TE spot to go with Payne Durham and Garrett Miller, who each practiced on Monday.
6. The No. 1 o-line lined up like this:
RT Marcus Mbow
RG Jared Bycznski
C Gus Hartwig
LG Spencer Holstege
LT Mahamane Moussa
Likely No. 1 LT Eric Miller (shoulder) is out, as is possible No. 1 RG Sione Finau (back), a transfer from Florida International. Also out is possible No. 1 RT Cam Craig (back).
The No. 2 o-line: RT Aaron Roberts, RG Ben Kuhns, C Josh Kaltenberger, LG Zach Richards, LT Nalin Fox.
7. Keep an eye on true freshman DT Mo Omonode. He’s listed at 5-11, 280. He already has the physique of an upperclassman and plays like he’s possessed. Something tells me the West Lafayette High product is going to be difficult to keep off the field. Fellow early enrollee Joe Strickland also looks good. The 6-3, 255-pound Strickland is No. 9 on your scorecard, another single-digit DL looking to make his mark. I wanna see him work in pads.
8. Early contender for “spring star from nowhere”: RB Devin Mockobee, a 6-0, 195-pound redshirt freshman. He came to campus as a walk-on in 2021. Mockobee runs with gusto. He should get reps this spring in a shallow pool of RBs that will be missing Dylan Downing, who is out after shoulder surgery. King Doerue is A-OK.
9. Yes, Michael Alaimo was at practice after news broke Monday morning the redshirt sophomore QB had withdrawn from the portal after entering it the week prior. And Jeff Brohm said he had a good practice.
“He had a really good practice today,” said Jeff Brohm. “I think he maybe was relaxed. Every young man goes through things and we want them to do what's best for them and their family. Pretty much right away, he realized that he wanted to come back and we still wanted him to think on it a little bit because we just wanted to make sure that he feels good with it.
“So, we met with him. He wants to be here. He wants to compete. He wants to play. He wants to be a football player at Purdue. That's what he expressed to us verbally, looking us in the eye, and he had a really good practice today. He has some experience, he knows the offense. He's got a good arm. Decent athleticism, and you want to have options at quarterback.”
10. Among the small army of missing players on Monday was RB Sampson James. Purdue needs his experience and skill at a position that lacks proven commodities.
“Sampson is going through a few things,” said Jeff Brohm. “We just got to make sure he's fully healthy and ready to go. Everybody’s got a different scenario that they're dealing with, but he'll be back for Wednesday's practice. He's worked really hard in the offseason. But I think he’ll be ready to go on Wednesday.”
THANKS for reading.
YANNI KARLAFTIS IS LOOKING FOR A HOME. AND IT MAY BE AT LEO.
1. Iowa transfer Tyrone Tracy could be a real weapon. Think of him as a glitzier version of Jackson Anthrop, able to play wideout, receiver and return kick. The Indianapolis native could be a difference-maker for an offense that needs some juice. Tracy wears No. 3. Make a note of it.
2. At 6-3, 225, Yanni Karlaftis looks like a Big Ten player after missing spring ball in 2021 recovering from a hamstring injury. He worked out with the defensive line and linebackers on Monday. He got quite a bit of work at LEO, a spot Jeff Brohm says Karlaftis has expressed an interest in playing. So, he may settle in on the edge.
"Yanni will play multiple positions," said Jeff Brohm. "He's expressed a desire to want to play our defensive end position. So, we want to give him a look there. We also still want to look at him at the linebacker in the box, as well. He's worked really hard. He's got stronger, he's finally fully healthy. He wants to go out and prove himself. So, we're going to give him a look at both of those spots, multiple positions and multiple times and just kind of see what he feels most comfortable with. But we do want to get him on the field."
3. Jeff Brohm seemed impressed by Brady Allen’s first practice as a Boilermaker. The four-star talent looks the part, every bit of 6-5/6-6. He has a long torso and physique that resembles Peyton Manning. Allen even wears No. 18. Not saying the 2021 Indiana Mr. Football is Manning, but Allen drips with promise. He throws a tight pass, but seemed to have some issues with the speed of the college game. Gonna be fun watching Allen the next few seasons.
4. It was a bit odd not to see former WR coach JaMarcus Shephard on the field. He had been on Jeff Brohm’s first five staffs. And it was impossible not to hear and notice the demonstrative Shephard, who brought a lot of energy and mojo to the field. His replacement as WR coach Garrick McGee is much more reserved. McGee is a bright mind who will bring a lot of acumen to the staff.
5. Redshirt freshman WR Preston Terrell made some nice grabs. And true freshman early enrollee WR Zion Steptoe is a smooth-operator. TE Paul Piferi is every bit of 6-5, 240. He looked good on Monday, giving Purdue three nice options at a deep TE spot to go with Payne Durham and Garrett Miller, who each practiced on Monday.
6. The No. 1 o-line lined up like this:
RT Marcus Mbow
RG Jared Bycznski
C Gus Hartwig
LG Spencer Holstege
LT Mahamane Moussa
Likely No. 1 LT Eric Miller (shoulder) is out, as is possible No. 1 RG Sione Finau (back), a transfer from Florida International. Also out is possible No. 1 RT Cam Craig (back).
The No. 2 o-line: RT Aaron Roberts, RG Ben Kuhns, C Josh Kaltenberger, LG Zach Richards, LT Nalin Fox.
7. Keep an eye on true freshman DT Mo Omonode. He’s listed at 5-11, 280. He already has the physique of an upperclassman and plays like he’s possessed. Something tells me the West Lafayette High product is going to be difficult to keep off the field. Fellow early enrollee Joe Strickland also looks good. The 6-3, 255-pound Strickland is No. 9 on your scorecard, another single-digit DL looking to make his mark. I wanna see him work in pads.
8. Early contender for “spring star from nowhere”: RB Devin Mockobee, a 6-0, 195-pound redshirt freshman. He came to campus as a walk-on in 2021. Mockobee runs with gusto. He should get reps this spring in a shallow pool of RBs that will be missing Dylan Downing, who is out after shoulder surgery. King Doerue is A-OK.
9. Yes, Michael Alaimo was at practice after news broke Monday morning the redshirt sophomore QB had withdrawn from the portal after entering it the week prior. And Jeff Brohm said he had a good practice.
“He had a really good practice today,” said Jeff Brohm. “I think he maybe was relaxed. Every young man goes through things and we want them to do what's best for them and their family. Pretty much right away, he realized that he wanted to come back and we still wanted him to think on it a little bit because we just wanted to make sure that he feels good with it.
“So, we met with him. He wants to be here. He wants to compete. He wants to play. He wants to be a football player at Purdue. That's what he expressed to us verbally, looking us in the eye, and he had a really good practice today. He has some experience, he knows the offense. He's got a good arm. Decent athleticism, and you want to have options at quarterback.”
10. Among the small army of missing players on Monday was RB Sampson James. Purdue needs his experience and skill at a position that lacks proven commodities.
“Sampson is going through a few things,” said Jeff Brohm. “We just got to make sure he's fully healthy and ready to go. Everybody’s got a different scenario that they're dealing with, but he'll be back for Wednesday's practice. He's worked really hard in the offseason. But I think he’ll be ready to go on Wednesday.”
THANKS for reading.
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