Purdue went in full pads and did lots of hitting just two days after a full-go scrimmage. The Boilermakers will practice one more time on Wednesday before wrapping up spring drills with a spring game on Saturday in Ross-Ade Stadium. Let's take a deep dive into Monday's practice.
1. Didn't see RB Tario Fuller today. He was spotted icing his left leg on Saturday on the sideline during the scrimmage. Guessing his absence today is related to Saturday. The last thing Purdue needs is another injury. I suspect Fuller will be shut down for the rest of the spring. With Fuller gone, Zander Horvath was the No. 1 RB.
2. Elijah Sindelar was at practice today in a hoodie and shorts. He wore a black sleeve on his left leg. Jeff Brohm announced on Saturday that Sindelar had "tweaked" his left knee (same one he hurt in 2017) and probably was finished for the spring.
3. Purdue had a couple of recruits at practice today. S Todd Bumphis of St. Francis De Sales High in Toledo, Ohio, and LB Michael Lunz of North Hardin High in Radcliff, Ky. The 6-1, 180-pound Bumphis is a Class of 2020 recruit. His father said Bumphis has been to Cincinnati, Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and Pitt. The family is headed to Minnesota on Friday. Bumphis' father told me they are ready to be done with the recruiting process. The 6-2, 215-pound Lunz is a Class of 2021 recruit. Lunz told me this was his first trip to Purdue.
Todd Bumphis
4. Kelly Trent was at practice with son Ethan. Kelly is the mother of Tyler Trent. She is always humble, kind and grateful. A very special family.
5. Redshirt freshman OT Eric Miller (shoulder) worked along the fringes of the field on conditioning alongside LB Jaylan Alexander (ankle). QB Nick Sipe (back) also did conditioning work. But unlike Miller and Alexander--who were in uniform--Sipe was in T-shirt and shorts.
6. Been watching the defensive line and offensive line do pass-rush/pass-block drills vs. each other most of spring. I have been impressed with the rushing ability of DT Jeff Marks. At 6-3, 270, he is undersized for a tackle. But he gets after it. Others who "get after it" are DT Giovanni Reviere and DE Kai Higgins. Each is quick. The 6-5, 270-pound Reviere has an angular body that's difficult for o-linemen to deal with. George Karlaftis also flashes.
Jeff Marks
7. Spoke to George Karlaftis after practice. He says he is working out exclusively at defensive end; no reps at "Leo." He also says there are some sets where he lines up inside at tackle. In case you were wondering: Karlaftis will turn 18 on Wednesday.
8. During today's o-line vs. d-line drill pass-rush/pass-block drill, massive OT Grant Hermanns and DE Kai Higgins had a little rumble. Higgins didn't back down from the 6-7, 300-pound Hermanns. The two shoved each other briefly and exchanged quick blows. At one point, Higgins punched Hermanns' helmet. Not a wise move.
Grant Hermanns
9. During the scrimmage portion late in practice, the defense appeared to have the upper-hand. But the offense had its moments. Jack Plummer made a pretty deep pass to Jared Sparks. Plummer also had a nice scramble. And Rondale Moore had a few big plays. Paul Piferi hooked up with Amad Anderson, Jr., on a nice deep pass.
10. Talked to early enrollee S Jalen Graham after practice. At 6-3, 215 pounds, he is a freaky athlete in the back-end. Reminds me physically of the late, great Sean Taylor. You wonder how big Graham could get in a year or two. Could he get up to 225 pounds? Maybe 230 pounds? I asked him if he thought he could move to linebacker one day.
Graham: "Coach Poin (safeties coach Anthony Poindexter) told me I’ll never be too big to be a safety But if that’s what the team needs (move to LB), then I will move down to linebacker."
Thanks for reading!!
1. Didn't see RB Tario Fuller today. He was spotted icing his left leg on Saturday on the sideline during the scrimmage. Guessing his absence today is related to Saturday. The last thing Purdue needs is another injury. I suspect Fuller will be shut down for the rest of the spring. With Fuller gone, Zander Horvath was the No. 1 RB.
2. Elijah Sindelar was at practice today in a hoodie and shorts. He wore a black sleeve on his left leg. Jeff Brohm announced on Saturday that Sindelar had "tweaked" his left knee (same one he hurt in 2017) and probably was finished for the spring.
3. Purdue had a couple of recruits at practice today. S Todd Bumphis of St. Francis De Sales High in Toledo, Ohio, and LB Michael Lunz of North Hardin High in Radcliff, Ky. The 6-1, 180-pound Bumphis is a Class of 2020 recruit. His father said Bumphis has been to Cincinnati, Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and Pitt. The family is headed to Minnesota on Friday. Bumphis' father told me they are ready to be done with the recruiting process. The 6-2, 215-pound Lunz is a Class of 2021 recruit. Lunz told me this was his first trip to Purdue.
Todd Bumphis
4. Kelly Trent was at practice with son Ethan. Kelly is the mother of Tyler Trent. She is always humble, kind and grateful. A very special family.
5. Redshirt freshman OT Eric Miller (shoulder) worked along the fringes of the field on conditioning alongside LB Jaylan Alexander (ankle). QB Nick Sipe (back) also did conditioning work. But unlike Miller and Alexander--who were in uniform--Sipe was in T-shirt and shorts.
6. Been watching the defensive line and offensive line do pass-rush/pass-block drills vs. each other most of spring. I have been impressed with the rushing ability of DT Jeff Marks. At 6-3, 270, he is undersized for a tackle. But he gets after it. Others who "get after it" are DT Giovanni Reviere and DE Kai Higgins. Each is quick. The 6-5, 270-pound Reviere has an angular body that's difficult for o-linemen to deal with. George Karlaftis also flashes.
Jeff Marks
7. Spoke to George Karlaftis after practice. He says he is working out exclusively at defensive end; no reps at "Leo." He also says there are some sets where he lines up inside at tackle. In case you were wondering: Karlaftis will turn 18 on Wednesday.
8. During today's o-line vs. d-line drill pass-rush/pass-block drill, massive OT Grant Hermanns and DE Kai Higgins had a little rumble. Higgins didn't back down from the 6-7, 300-pound Hermanns. The two shoved each other briefly and exchanged quick blows. At one point, Higgins punched Hermanns' helmet. Not a wise move.
Grant Hermanns
9. During the scrimmage portion late in practice, the defense appeared to have the upper-hand. But the offense had its moments. Jack Plummer made a pretty deep pass to Jared Sparks. Plummer also had a nice scramble. And Rondale Moore had a few big plays. Paul Piferi hooked up with Amad Anderson, Jr., on a nice deep pass.
10. Talked to early enrollee S Jalen Graham after practice. At 6-3, 215 pounds, he is a freaky athlete in the back-end. Reminds me physically of the late, great Sean Taylor. You wonder how big Graham could get in a year or two. Could he get up to 225 pounds? Maybe 230 pounds? I asked him if he thought he could move to linebacker one day.
Graham: "Coach Poin (safeties coach Anthony Poindexter) told me I’ll never be too big to be a safety But if that’s what the team needs (move to LB), then I will move down to linebacker."
Thanks for reading!!
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