It has been a busy weekend, so I am a bit behind on posting these, but I wanted to get at least something up for #29 Earl Kulp, #28 Addai Llewellan, and #27 Zeke WIlliams.
Earl Kulp - Fr.
Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
6', 187 pounds
Defensive Back
2024 Projection: Likely redshirt
Because of the depth Purdue has in the defensive backfield Kulp looks like a redshirt, but his background as a champion might help him see the field faster. He comes from national powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale. He won three state championships there and he won a fourth state championship as a freshman with Miami Central. That experience should prepare him well for the college game. He is already used to playing against some of the best of the best with the schedule STA plays.
Addai Lewellen - Jr.
Royal Center, IN (Pioneer HS)
5'8", 181 pounds
Running Back
2024 Projection: Reserve
Lewellen has already seen some very limited action as a walkon. He had one carry for seven yards late in the Citrus Bowl loss to LSU and a single carry late last year in the loss to Ohio State. His trip to Big Ten football as a walk-on has been a long one. At age 5 he and his twin brother, Ezra, were adopted from Liberia by a couple from the small town of Royal Center. His birth name is Lakpyee, but he was renamed Addai after Colts running back Joseph Addai (who ironically played in college at LSU, the team Addai got his first carry against).
Addai was a freshman in 2018 when Pioneer went 15-0 and won the Class A state title for a second straight year behind Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser. He also played basketball and ran track for Pioneer. In football he ran for 2,768 yards and 45 touchdowns in four years, with his best season coming in 2019 as Pioneer reached the semi-state in Class 2A. His brother Ezra is also a college athlete running track at Purdue-Fort Wayne.
Zeke Williams - So.
Naperville, IL (Northern Illinois University)
5'10", 190 pounds
Defensive Back
2024 Projection: Reserve
Williams made his Purdue debut last season, playing briefly in the Indiana game. Before that he spent a year at Northern Illinois. He was also a high school teammate of freshman DB Luke Pettaway. His younger brother Luke is also on the roster this year, as he was part of the incoming 2024 recruiting class.
In high school he played both ways with 43 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns as senior. He also served as a kickoff returner and played basketball.
Earl Kulp - Fr.
Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
6', 187 pounds
Defensive Back
2024 Projection: Likely redshirt
Because of the depth Purdue has in the defensive backfield Kulp looks like a redshirt, but his background as a champion might help him see the field faster. He comes from national powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale. He won three state championships there and he won a fourth state championship as a freshman with Miami Central. That experience should prepare him well for the college game. He is already used to playing against some of the best of the best with the schedule STA plays.
Addai Lewellen - Jr.
Royal Center, IN (Pioneer HS)
5'8", 181 pounds
Running Back
2024 Projection: Reserve
Lewellen has already seen some very limited action as a walkon. He had one carry for seven yards late in the Citrus Bowl loss to LSU and a single carry late last year in the loss to Ohio State. His trip to Big Ten football as a walk-on has been a long one. At age 5 he and his twin brother, Ezra, were adopted from Liberia by a couple from the small town of Royal Center. His birth name is Lakpyee, but he was renamed Addai after Colts running back Joseph Addai (who ironically played in college at LSU, the team Addai got his first carry against).
Addai was a freshman in 2018 when Pioneer went 15-0 and won the Class A state title for a second straight year behind Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser. He also played basketball and ran track for Pioneer. In football he ran for 2,768 yards and 45 touchdowns in four years, with his best season coming in 2019 as Pioneer reached the semi-state in Class 2A. His brother Ezra is also a college athlete running track at Purdue-Fort Wayne.
Zeke Williams - So.
Naperville, IL (Northern Illinois University)
5'10", 190 pounds
Defensive Back
2024 Projection: Reserve
Williams made his Purdue debut last season, playing briefly in the Indiana game. Before that he spent a year at Northern Illinois. He was also a high school teammate of freshman DB Luke Pettaway. His younger brother Luke is also on the roster this year, as he was part of the incoming 2024 recruiting class.
In high school he played both ways with 43 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns as senior. He also served as a kickoff returner and played basketball.
