A deep-dive look at practice No. 10, the first to be held outdoors. It was a glorious day! In fact, it was a good day to sweep the words “I am an American” across what was a bright March sky. Where are my Weber Grill and tongs? Now, let's go!
1. Two good signs today: sophomore center Viktor Beach was in full pads for the first time since the opening week of spring drills. He has been dealing with a back issue. Beach didn’t have any contact, but he did some work off to the side. Bottom line: Beach is getting closer to seeing full action. Also: DE George Karlaftis shed the red jersey he wore on Monday, as he was "dinged" in practice last week. The true freshman didn’t have any contact in scrimmage work but did individual drills. Karlaftis family was all at practice toward the end—mom, little brother, sister and Yanni.
2. Purdue had a big visitor today in Mitchell Melton from Good Counsel High in Olney, Md. He is a 6-3, 218-pound LB who is a three-star prospect. Spoke to his parents. They are on a driving tour during their son’s spring break. Melton visited Ohio State on Monday and the family is headed to Notre Dame and then Michigan before heading home. Melton's parents have roots in Ohio; dad went to Miami (Ohio); mom to Cincinnati. (His mom has an engineering degree.) Great people. Melton already has offers from Michigan, ND, Pitt, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech, among others. Get the picture?
Mitchell Melton
3. Earlier this month, Purdue added K Vincent Alerding, an Indianapolis native. He has been enrolled at Purdue since 2017. Alerding originally attended New Mexico. He is giving J.D. Dellinger some competition this spring until walk-on Chris VanEekeren arrives this summer from Chesterton, Ind.
4. The other big visitor today: Deontae Craig of Culver Academies. He is a 6-3, 225-pound DE that everyone wants. The three-star prospect has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Northwestern, Tennessee … you name it. Craig is the ultimate "big fish."
Deontae Craig
5. It was difficult not to see big Jake Renfro, a 6-3, 295-pound guard from Providence Catholic High in Homer Glen, Ill. He is a massive kid with a thick lower-body. Renfro holds a lot of MAC offers right now.
Jake Renfro
6. Near the end of practice, a giant scrum broke out during situational scrimmaging. The main combatants: S Cory Trice, CB Dedrick Mackey and WR Jared Sparks. Each did additional conditioning work after practice. Sparks left in a huff before before the team concluded its post-practice talk.
7. Always fun to watch the offensive linemen and defensive linemen battle in pass-block/pass-rush drills. On this day, Giovanni Reviere looked good vs. redshirt freshman Jimmy McKenna. Big left tackle Grant Hermanns gobbled up Kai Higgins on three consecutive rushes. Mark Stickford and Jeff Marks each had their moments in a three-play series. "Stick" held his own vs. the rugged Marks.
8. Lots of walking wounded today: LB Cornel Jones had a boot on his left foot; LB Jaylan Alexander had a wrap on his left ankle. DT Anthony Watts had a boot on his right foot. QB Nick Sipe remains out (back) as does DT Jack Sullivan (mono) and OT Matt McCann (presumed hand), among other players not taking part. With McCann out, redshirt freshman Will Bramel was first-team right tackle.
9. In case anyone was wondering, RB/Wrecking Ball Zander Horvath is on scholarship.
Zander Horvath
10. Spoke to the father of early enrollee OL Spencer Holstege on Monday. Good guy. He told me Spencer was motivated and goal-oriented early on, telling me Spencer decided back when he was a sophomore he wanted to begin making plans to graduate early from high school and enroll early in college. Here he is. The 6-5, 290-pound Holstege has been working at center, guard and tackle. He is a smart, tough, strong and motivated young man.
That's all for now. Next practice is Friday. (Probably a light workout.) Scrimmage is at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Still no word on where it will take place.
Thanks for reading.
1. Two good signs today: sophomore center Viktor Beach was in full pads for the first time since the opening week of spring drills. He has been dealing with a back issue. Beach didn’t have any contact, but he did some work off to the side. Bottom line: Beach is getting closer to seeing full action. Also: DE George Karlaftis shed the red jersey he wore on Monday, as he was "dinged" in practice last week. The true freshman didn’t have any contact in scrimmage work but did individual drills. Karlaftis family was all at practice toward the end—mom, little brother, sister and Yanni.
2. Purdue had a big visitor today in Mitchell Melton from Good Counsel High in Olney, Md. He is a 6-3, 218-pound LB who is a three-star prospect. Spoke to his parents. They are on a driving tour during their son’s spring break. Melton visited Ohio State on Monday and the family is headed to Notre Dame and then Michigan before heading home. Melton's parents have roots in Ohio; dad went to Miami (Ohio); mom to Cincinnati. (His mom has an engineering degree.) Great people. Melton already has offers from Michigan, ND, Pitt, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech, among others. Get the picture?
Mitchell Melton
3. Earlier this month, Purdue added K Vincent Alerding, an Indianapolis native. He has been enrolled at Purdue since 2017. Alerding originally attended New Mexico. He is giving J.D. Dellinger some competition this spring until walk-on Chris VanEekeren arrives this summer from Chesterton, Ind.
4. The other big visitor today: Deontae Craig of Culver Academies. He is a 6-3, 225-pound DE that everyone wants. The three-star prospect has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Northwestern, Tennessee … you name it. Craig is the ultimate "big fish."
Deontae Craig
5. It was difficult not to see big Jake Renfro, a 6-3, 295-pound guard from Providence Catholic High in Homer Glen, Ill. He is a massive kid with a thick lower-body. Renfro holds a lot of MAC offers right now.
Jake Renfro
6. Near the end of practice, a giant scrum broke out during situational scrimmaging. The main combatants: S Cory Trice, CB Dedrick Mackey and WR Jared Sparks. Each did additional conditioning work after practice. Sparks left in a huff before before the team concluded its post-practice talk.
7. Always fun to watch the offensive linemen and defensive linemen battle in pass-block/pass-rush drills. On this day, Giovanni Reviere looked good vs. redshirt freshman Jimmy McKenna. Big left tackle Grant Hermanns gobbled up Kai Higgins on three consecutive rushes. Mark Stickford and Jeff Marks each had their moments in a three-play series. "Stick" held his own vs. the rugged Marks.
8. Lots of walking wounded today: LB Cornel Jones had a boot on his left foot; LB Jaylan Alexander had a wrap on his left ankle. DT Anthony Watts had a boot on his right foot. QB Nick Sipe remains out (back) as does DT Jack Sullivan (mono) and OT Matt McCann (presumed hand), among other players not taking part. With McCann out, redshirt freshman Will Bramel was first-team right tackle.
9. In case anyone was wondering, RB/Wrecking Ball Zander Horvath is on scholarship.
Zander Horvath
10. Spoke to the father of early enrollee OL Spencer Holstege on Monday. Good guy. He told me Spencer was motivated and goal-oriented early on, telling me Spencer decided back when he was a sophomore he wanted to begin making plans to graduate early from high school and enroll early in college. Here he is. The 6-5, 290-pound Holstege has been working at center, guard and tackle. He is a smart, tough, strong and motivated young man.
That's all for now. Next practice is Friday. (Probably a light workout.) Scrimmage is at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Still no word on where it will take place.
Thanks for reading.
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