It will be a busy weekend on the recruiting front for Purdue, particularly for Ryan Walters and the Boilermakers' coaching staff, who are set to host a large group of visitors for the Indiana game. The Weekly Upload dives into Saturday's key visitors, a JUCO offensive lineman taking an official visit, and more!
Green is coming off a visit to Virginia Tech, who has become a late player for the Coffeyville C.C. product. He also holds offers from Houston, Arizona State, UTSA and App State, among others.
Purdue is firmly in the mix with Green and from what I've been told, could put a bow on things by the end of the weekend if all goes well.
Eugene Hilton Jr.
Since day one, Eugene Hilton Jr. has been a prized recruit for wide receivers coach Cory Patterson and the Boilermakers. This fall, he announced his final six schools of Ole Miss, Kentucky, Missouri, Florida International, Wisconsin and Miami, which notably did not include Purdue.
The Boilermakers are making a late push to enter the mix for one of the top in-state recruits in the class of 2025 and are not completely out of things just yet. Nothing imminent in terms of a commitment, but Purdue is doing its best to stay in the race for Hilton.
Mason Alexander
Another in-state 2025 prospect that Purdue is high on is Hamilton Southeastern cornerback Mason Alexander. The unranked prospect will likely earn three or four stars in the coming months when the Rivals rankings updates are released. Sam Carter and Purdue have been trying to get him on campus all season and will finally get the opportunity on Saturday.
Alexander has visited Tennessee, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Alabama and Missouri in the last two months. His recruitment has also picked up, which will make life harder for the Boilermakers, who remain committed to keeping Alexander in state.
Aidan Bryant:
2024 offensive lineman Aidan Bryant is somewhat of an under the radar prospect, being unranked but holding an offer from Ohio State, Auburn, Louisville and Purdue, among others. Originally from Westfield, Bryant has only played football for a handful of years, but has the full attention of Marcus Johnson and company.
As Purdue looks to build depth in the trenches in the 2024 recruiting class, Bryant could emerge as a prime target down the stretch.
Landon Brooks:
2025 outside linebacker Landon Brooks burst onto the scene this fall, earning offers from Purdue, Michigan State, and Missouriin October. Brooks' recruitment has slowed since that initial influx of offers, but the Muncie, Indiana native is going to be a rise in the class of 2025.
Brooks previously told Boiler Upload that Purdue holds a special place in his hear and is returning for a second game day visit this season. The Boilermakers are emerging as an early favorite for the 6'6" edge rusher.
Running backs coach Lamar Conard has visited 2025 running back Nino Hill in his hometown of Akron, Ohio this fall, and now Hill will return the favor this weekend. The Canton McKinley High School product rushed for 1,100 yards in just eight games as a sophomore this season. Purdue already has Ohio native Ziaire Stevens committed in the class of 2025, but could be in the market to add another prospect to the backfield.
The other top candidate to earn an offer on Saturday is 2025 outside linebacker Uchenyo Ojata, who plays for Carmel High School, which has five products on Purdue's roster this season. Ojata is coming off a sophomore campaign that saw him rack up 27 total tackles, four forced fumbles, two tackles for loss and two sacks. He also has offers from West Virginia and Nebraska.
Well, Purdue is happy with the group of incoming defensive backs in the class of 2024, including cornerbacks Earl Kulp and Hudauri Hines, along with safeties Koy Beasley, LeonTre Bradford, Luke Williams, D'Mon Marable and Ty Hudkins.
With that being said, Purdue's focus in adding to Sam Carter's cornerback room will be in the transfer portal, similar to last off-season in West Lafayette. There are no targets as of right now, but that will quickly change as the transfer portal period opens in just over a week.
The Boilermakers could see several spots open up at the position when the portal opens in December as well. Kevin Kane will be busy on the recruiting trail trying to add talent to his group this off-season.
Purdue hosting official visitor this weekend:
The Boilermakers are set to host over 50 visitors this weekend for the Old Oaken Bucket game (more on that in a moment), but one visitor in particular will be important. Three-star JUCO offensive lineman Rod Green will be in West Lafayette for an official visit over the weekend, as previously reported.Green is coming off a visit to Virginia Tech, who has become a late player for the Coffeyville C.C. product. He also holds offers from Houston, Arizona State, UTSA and App State, among others.
Purdue is firmly in the mix with Green and from what I've been told, could put a bow on things by the end of the weekend if all goes well.
Key visitors for the Indiana game:
As previously mentioned, Purdue is going to have a litany of prospects on campus for this weekend's regular season finale against Indiana. You can view the full list here. A number of recruits that will be in West Lafayette are priority target for Ryan Walters and company.Eugene Hilton Jr.
Since day one, Eugene Hilton Jr. has been a prized recruit for wide receivers coach Cory Patterson and the Boilermakers. This fall, he announced his final six schools of Ole Miss, Kentucky, Missouri, Florida International, Wisconsin and Miami, which notably did not include Purdue.
The Boilermakers are making a late push to enter the mix for one of the top in-state recruits in the class of 2025 and are not completely out of things just yet. Nothing imminent in terms of a commitment, but Purdue is doing its best to stay in the race for Hilton.
Mason Alexander
Another in-state 2025 prospect that Purdue is high on is Hamilton Southeastern cornerback Mason Alexander. The unranked prospect will likely earn three or four stars in the coming months when the Rivals rankings updates are released. Sam Carter and Purdue have been trying to get him on campus all season and will finally get the opportunity on Saturday.
Alexander has visited Tennessee, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Alabama and Missouri in the last two months. His recruitment has also picked up, which will make life harder for the Boilermakers, who remain committed to keeping Alexander in state.
Aidan Bryant:
2024 offensive lineman Aidan Bryant is somewhat of an under the radar prospect, being unranked but holding an offer from Ohio State, Auburn, Louisville and Purdue, among others. Originally from Westfield, Bryant has only played football for a handful of years, but has the full attention of Marcus Johnson and company.
As Purdue looks to build depth in the trenches in the 2024 recruiting class, Bryant could emerge as a prime target down the stretch.
Landon Brooks:
2025 outside linebacker Landon Brooks burst onto the scene this fall, earning offers from Purdue, Michigan State, and Missouriin October. Brooks' recruitment has slowed since that initial influx of offers, but the Muncie, Indiana native is going to be a rise in the class of 2025.
Brooks previously told Boiler Upload that Purdue holds a special place in his hear and is returning for a second game day visit this season. The Boilermakers are emerging as an early favorite for the 6'6" edge rusher.
Who could earn an offer from the Boilermakers this weekend?
A number of prospects could leave West Lafayette with an offer in hand after game day unofficial visits to campus and two are the biggest candidates to fall under that category by the end of the weekend.Running backs coach Lamar Conard has visited 2025 running back Nino Hill in his hometown of Akron, Ohio this fall, and now Hill will return the favor this weekend. The Canton McKinley High School product rushed for 1,100 yards in just eight games as a sophomore this season. Purdue already has Ohio native Ziaire Stevens committed in the class of 2025, but could be in the market to add another prospect to the backfield.
The other top candidate to earn an offer on Saturday is 2025 outside linebacker Uchenyo Ojata, who plays for Carmel High School, which has five products on Purdue's roster this season. Ojata is coming off a sophomore campaign that saw him rack up 27 total tackles, four forced fumbles, two tackles for loss and two sacks. He also has offers from West Virginia and Nebraska.
Nettles backs off pledge, where does Purdue look?
Three-star cornerback William Nettles decommitted from Purdue earlier this week, the second defensive back to do so this cycle, joining Jo'Ziah Edmond. Where do the Boilermakers go from here?Well, Purdue is happy with the group of incoming defensive backs in the class of 2024, including cornerbacks Earl Kulp and Hudauri Hines, along with safeties Koy Beasley, LeonTre Bradford, Luke Williams, D'Mon Marable and Ty Hudkins.
With that being said, Purdue's focus in adding to Sam Carter's cornerback room will be in the transfer portal, similar to last off-season in West Lafayette. There are no targets as of right now, but that will quickly change as the transfer portal period opens in just over a week.
Update on the future of the inside linebacker spot:
Priority target at inside linebacker Desman Stephens committed to USC on Thanksgiving, leaving Purdue without a clear prospect at the position in the class of 2024. Like cornerback, Purdue will likely address the need in the transfer portal and from the JUCO ranks in the next month or so.The Boilermakers could see several spots open up at the position when the portal opens in December as well. Kevin Kane will be busy on the recruiting trail trying to add talent to his group this off-season.
