Lots going on at today's scrimmage inside the Mollenkopf Center, complete with real officials. WR Amad Anderson, Jr., was a star, along with WR Jared Sparks and TE Payne Durham. Let's take a deep-dive look what went on today. Also be sure to read by "scrimmage notables" story and watch my videos with Jeff Brohm, Amad Anderson and Simeon Smiley.
1. Lots of Class of 2020 recruits were on hand--close to 50. The sidelines were packed. Some BIG bodies dotted the sideline. I spoke briefly to OT Kevo Wesley of Curie High in Chicago as well as WR Devell Washington of Central High in Bay City, Mich. He was hanging with WR Maliq Carr of Oak Park High in Oak Park, Mich. Both are big wideouts.
Devell Washington
Also spoke to OT Ben Wrather of Olentangy Liberty High in Powell, Ohio. I also noticed 6-4, 241-pound TE/OL Mark Goode of LaRue High in Hodgenville, Ky., and 6-7, 330-pound Jason Eaton of Clarksville, Tenn. Also couldn't miss 6-7, 285-pound Sam Rengert of Fairbanks High in Milford Center, Ohio. Rengert is one of the biggest humans I have ever seen. Looked like he was 7-2!
Jason Eaton
2. Former Purdue DC Greg Hudson was on hand. Great guy! The epitome of "gregarious." His son and former Boiler LB Garrett is working with special teams for Purdue. Greg Hudson works for the NCAA in football development.
3. Purdue has four publicized early enrollees: DE George Karlaftis; QB Paul Piferi, OL Spencer Holstege and S Jalen Graham. But there is another: Long-snapper Hunter McDonald, a preferred walk-on from Crown Point, Ind. The 6-3, 220-pound McDonald is competing with redshirt freshman Grant East. Sophomore K Zac Collins and junior QB Danny Carollo hold.
4. Massive 2019 signee Steven Faucheux was on his hand with his father. The 6-4, 270-pound defensive tackle took part in a panel today, answering questions that 2020 recruits might have.
5. Spotted Yanni Karlaftis, the little brother of Purdue freshman DE George Karlaftis. Yanni is just finishing his sophomore year at nearby West Lafayette High. The linebacker already is a national recruit and could be the best player in Indiana in the Class of 2021. Yanni plays with an edge and has been described to me as being "mean" on the field. Bottom line: Yanni Karlaftis is a stud who basically can go to any school in the nation
6. Redshirt freshman OT Eric Miller didn't practice on Friday and wasn't dressed today, either. The 6-7, 290-pounder has "tweaked" a shoulder. Speaking of the o-line, sophomore C Viktor Beach was in full gear and took part in the scrimmage. He worked with the second-team.
7. The football team from St. Rita High on the southwest side of Chicago was on hand in force. Terrific school academically and athletically. The school has sent several players to Purdue over the years, notably Matt and Tom Kingsbury.
8. Jeff Brohm looked to be in midseason form today on a few occasions. He "got after it" a few times. At one point in the scrimmage, he was in the ear of sophomore Sam Garvin, the first-team center, offering "encouragement"--if you know what I mean.
9. Talked to junior CB Simeon Smiley after the scrimmage. I asked him the percent of time the secondary plays man coverage and the percent it plays zone. He said 85 percent man/15 percent zone.
10. Good to meet the father of QB Jack Plummer, Brad Plummer. He lives in Iowa, so he is able to get to West Lafayette to see Jack. Brad Plummer--who has degrees from Northwestern and Iowa--has another QB son, Will, who has committed to play for Kevin Sumlin at Arizona. He will be a senior in Gilbert, Ariz., next season. With Elijah Sindelar already "tweaking" the same knee he hurt in 2017 and sophomore Nick Sipe missing most of spring ball with a back issue, the development of Jack Plummer is key.
Jack Plummer
Thanks for reading!
1. Lots of Class of 2020 recruits were on hand--close to 50. The sidelines were packed. Some BIG bodies dotted the sideline. I spoke briefly to OT Kevo Wesley of Curie High in Chicago as well as WR Devell Washington of Central High in Bay City, Mich. He was hanging with WR Maliq Carr of Oak Park High in Oak Park, Mich. Both are big wideouts.
Devell Washington
Also spoke to OT Ben Wrather of Olentangy Liberty High in Powell, Ohio. I also noticed 6-4, 241-pound TE/OL Mark Goode of LaRue High in Hodgenville, Ky., and 6-7, 330-pound Jason Eaton of Clarksville, Tenn. Also couldn't miss 6-7, 285-pound Sam Rengert of Fairbanks High in Milford Center, Ohio. Rengert is one of the biggest humans I have ever seen. Looked like he was 7-2!
Jason Eaton
2. Former Purdue DC Greg Hudson was on hand. Great guy! The epitome of "gregarious." His son and former Boiler LB Garrett is working with special teams for Purdue. Greg Hudson works for the NCAA in football development.
3. Purdue has four publicized early enrollees: DE George Karlaftis; QB Paul Piferi, OL Spencer Holstege and S Jalen Graham. But there is another: Long-snapper Hunter McDonald, a preferred walk-on from Crown Point, Ind. The 6-3, 220-pound McDonald is competing with redshirt freshman Grant East. Sophomore K Zac Collins and junior QB Danny Carollo hold.
4. Massive 2019 signee Steven Faucheux was on his hand with his father. The 6-4, 270-pound defensive tackle took part in a panel today, answering questions that 2020 recruits might have.
5. Spotted Yanni Karlaftis, the little brother of Purdue freshman DE George Karlaftis. Yanni is just finishing his sophomore year at nearby West Lafayette High. The linebacker already is a national recruit and could be the best player in Indiana in the Class of 2021. Yanni plays with an edge and has been described to me as being "mean" on the field. Bottom line: Yanni Karlaftis is a stud who basically can go to any school in the nation
6. Redshirt freshman OT Eric Miller didn't practice on Friday and wasn't dressed today, either. The 6-7, 290-pounder has "tweaked" a shoulder. Speaking of the o-line, sophomore C Viktor Beach was in full gear and took part in the scrimmage. He worked with the second-team.
7. The football team from St. Rita High on the southwest side of Chicago was on hand in force. Terrific school academically and athletically. The school has sent several players to Purdue over the years, notably Matt and Tom Kingsbury.
8. Jeff Brohm looked to be in midseason form today on a few occasions. He "got after it" a few times. At one point in the scrimmage, he was in the ear of sophomore Sam Garvin, the first-team center, offering "encouragement"--if you know what I mean.
9. Talked to junior CB Simeon Smiley after the scrimmage. I asked him the percent of time the secondary plays man coverage and the percent it plays zone. He said 85 percent man/15 percent zone.
10. Good to meet the father of QB Jack Plummer, Brad Plummer. He lives in Iowa, so he is able to get to West Lafayette to see Jack. Brad Plummer--who has degrees from Northwestern and Iowa--has another QB son, Will, who has committed to play for Kevin Sumlin at Arizona. He will be a senior in Gilbert, Ariz., next season. With Elijah Sindelar already "tweaking" the same knee he hurt in 2017 and sophomore Nick Sipe missing most of spring ball with a back issue, the development of Jack Plummer is key.
Jack Plummer
Thanks for reading!
