Let’s take a Deep Dive …
• Cool day--too cool for August camp--with the team in full pads for the first time. Practice was shorter than usual, just 17 periods instead of the usual 21. Purdue scrimmages tomorrow in Ross-Ade. It’s closed, as are all practices/scrimmages moving forward. We will talk to Jeff Brohm after tomorrow’s scrimmage.
• News of RB Sampson James transferring from Indiana to Purdue broke about an hour after practice concluded on Friday. James is a former four-star prospect in the Class of 2019 from Avon (Ind.) High who at one time was committed to Ohio State. The question: Will he be eligible in 2021? From what I am hearing, James will likely need a waiver to play this season. And that may be tough to get. Stay tuned. There is always hope that he will join fifth-year senior Zander Horvath and junior King Doerue in the Boiler backfield in 2021. James will have three years of eligibility. Purdue had been looking for a boost in its running back room and shopped the portal hard in the offseason but camp up empty. Now, it has scored a big addition. FYI: James ran 22 times for 118 yards and a TD in IU's 44-41 triple OT win in Ross-Ade in 2019.
• Lots of fun talking to the o-linemen today. Western Kentucky transfer G Tyler Witt has a thriving tattoo business. He said one of his best customers has been Boilermaker junior WR Milton Wright. No, o-line coach Dale Williams isn’t interested in getting a tattoo from Witt. But, if Williams did, he said he’d get some Guns & Roses artwork.
• Fun fact: Projected sophomore starting left guard Spencer Holstege has only drank white milk or water his whole life. Nothing else.
• The o-line has been pretty banged up in camp. Today, sophomores Gus Hartwig and Cam Craig were limited, while true freshmen Zach Richards and Nailin Fox were out. This is a unit that already has had its depth compromised by losing Will Bramel, Mark Stickford and Kyle Jornigan to career-ending injury. And fifth-year senior center Sam Garvin’s career also may be in peril with injury. But Williams sounds confident that those who have been dinged up will be A-OK soon. That’s good news because …
• There are probably just seven offensive linemen who are ready for extended game action: T/C Greg Long, T Eric Miller, T/G Cam Craig, C/G Gus Hartwig, G/C Spencer Holstege, G Tyler Witt, T Dave Monnot. You could add fifth-year senior G DJ Washington to that list, but he could end up splitting time on the offensive and defensive lines. Washington was with the defense today, as has been the case most of camp.
• Most of the other o-linemen are relatively young and inexperienced, but they are promising. Still, they ideally would get more time to grow and develop and not be forced into extended duty. Bottom line: Purdue needs it top o-linemen to stay healthy. It has been fun to watch new assistant o-line coach Neil Callaway get after his players. The 65-year-old is as old-school as old-school can be. The guy played for Bear Bryant. Think about that.
• Good to see redshirt freshman WR Marcellus Moore--who has missed some practice time--taking a turn running back kickoffs. The diminutive speedster could give the return game some needed juice. Moore has emerged as a track star at Purdue, boasting what some feel is Olympic-caliber speed. His straight-line speed is undeniable, but can be make cuts and maintain his miles-per-hour?
• Have seen the offense run some pure pitch-option from time to time. Hey, every wrinkle should help a ground game that needs to gain more traction in 2021 for the offense to have more balance.
• There is a lot to like about Purdue’s top four safeties, but it’s important that sophomore Marvin Grant stays healthy. He had a shoulder injury as a freshman and has dealt with a quad issue in camp this year. Grant was a go today. Couple him with junior Cam. Allen, sophomore Sanoussi Kane and senior Chris Jefferson, and you have a nice foursome.
Thanks for reading!
• Cool day--too cool for August camp--with the team in full pads for the first time. Practice was shorter than usual, just 17 periods instead of the usual 21. Purdue scrimmages tomorrow in Ross-Ade. It’s closed, as are all practices/scrimmages moving forward. We will talk to Jeff Brohm after tomorrow’s scrimmage.
• News of RB Sampson James transferring from Indiana to Purdue broke about an hour after practice concluded on Friday. James is a former four-star prospect in the Class of 2019 from Avon (Ind.) High who at one time was committed to Ohio State. The question: Will he be eligible in 2021? From what I am hearing, James will likely need a waiver to play this season. And that may be tough to get. Stay tuned. There is always hope that he will join fifth-year senior Zander Horvath and junior King Doerue in the Boiler backfield in 2021. James will have three years of eligibility. Purdue had been looking for a boost in its running back room and shopped the portal hard in the offseason but camp up empty. Now, it has scored a big addition. FYI: James ran 22 times for 118 yards and a TD in IU's 44-41 triple OT win in Ross-Ade in 2019.
• Lots of fun talking to the o-linemen today. Western Kentucky transfer G Tyler Witt has a thriving tattoo business. He said one of his best customers has been Boilermaker junior WR Milton Wright. No, o-line coach Dale Williams isn’t interested in getting a tattoo from Witt. But, if Williams did, he said he’d get some Guns & Roses artwork.
• Fun fact: Projected sophomore starting left guard Spencer Holstege has only drank white milk or water his whole life. Nothing else.
• The o-line has been pretty banged up in camp. Today, sophomores Gus Hartwig and Cam Craig were limited, while true freshmen Zach Richards and Nailin Fox were out. This is a unit that already has had its depth compromised by losing Will Bramel, Mark Stickford and Kyle Jornigan to career-ending injury. And fifth-year senior center Sam Garvin’s career also may be in peril with injury. But Williams sounds confident that those who have been dinged up will be A-OK soon. That’s good news because …
• There are probably just seven offensive linemen who are ready for extended game action: T/C Greg Long, T Eric Miller, T/G Cam Craig, C/G Gus Hartwig, G/C Spencer Holstege, G Tyler Witt, T Dave Monnot. You could add fifth-year senior G DJ Washington to that list, but he could end up splitting time on the offensive and defensive lines. Washington was with the defense today, as has been the case most of camp.
• Most of the other o-linemen are relatively young and inexperienced, but they are promising. Still, they ideally would get more time to grow and develop and not be forced into extended duty. Bottom line: Purdue needs it top o-linemen to stay healthy. It has been fun to watch new assistant o-line coach Neil Callaway get after his players. The 65-year-old is as old-school as old-school can be. The guy played for Bear Bryant. Think about that.
• Good to see redshirt freshman WR Marcellus Moore--who has missed some practice time--taking a turn running back kickoffs. The diminutive speedster could give the return game some needed juice. Moore has emerged as a track star at Purdue, boasting what some feel is Olympic-caliber speed. His straight-line speed is undeniable, but can be make cuts and maintain his miles-per-hour?
• Have seen the offense run some pure pitch-option from time to time. Hey, every wrinkle should help a ground game that needs to gain more traction in 2021 for the offense to have more balance.
• There is a lot to like about Purdue’s top four safeties, but it’s important that sophomore Marvin Grant stays healthy. He had a shoulder injury as a freshman and has dealt with a quad issue in camp this year. Grant was a go today. Couple him with junior Cam. Allen, sophomore Sanoussi Kane and senior Chris Jefferson, and you have a nice foursome.
Thanks for reading!
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